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A VERY REMARKABLE ACCOUNT 

OF A 

SHEPHERD IN FRANCE,'] 

ABOUT EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE ; 

"Who, without any other Means than the Scriptures, and 
the Teachings of God's holy Spirit, attained to a Ve- 
ry uncommon and evangelical Knowledge of the true 
God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath fent. 

No'iv Tranftatcd from the French , and enlarged with 

Notes* 

fmmmtmmmmmm 



-S- 



By .CORNELIUS CAYLEY, Jun. 

*Late Clerk in the Princefs Dowager of Wales's Treafury. 



TO WHICH 13 ADDED, BY HIM, 

A Small Bunck of VIOLETS. 

BEING 

A Collection of Letters, Poems, and Meditations, &c. 
on many evangelical Subjects ; chiefly from natur; 
Figures and Shyiilitudes fpiritualized. 

IN TWO PARTS.— PART I. 



All toy IVorks Jhall prarft the,\ ZoRD> and thy Saints fiati 

blefs thee. P s A L M C xl V . 15. 
And they Jhall all be taught of God. JOHN vi. 45. 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY DAFID CARLlSLRy 

FOR JOHN WEST, No. 75, CORNHILL, 

TS06. 



\ v 






* : 



^433 1 



» Lx* 












CONTENTS 



OF TEE 



&ERAPRICAL SHEPHERD. 



CONVERSATION I. 

HE Jirfl meeting with this Shepherd, and 
dcfcription of his per/on. 4. Of his grace, 
and fpiritual gifts \ 7» His difcourfes upon 
union with God— upon growth in grace*— fuf- 
ferings and prayer. 11. The illumination of 
the foul ; inward operations of the Spirit. 
1 5. The danger of human praife, &c. 1 3 

CONVERSATION II. 

1 . Of the fountain of good thoughts and aclions* 

6. Difference between God, men 9 and devils* 

7. Confederation of the fiifferings of Chrijl ; 
and alfo of our own. 9. Grace the fountain 

of all virtues. 20 



CONVERSATION III. 



1. The caufe of the fouVs trouble. 3. The 
great nefs of man's corruption* and impotence 
by nature. 6. Of ChriJTs dominion ever fouls, 
8. Of the love of our neighbour* 18. Of the 
love and praclice of gcdlinefs. 24\ Facility 
of religious progrefs, Offelf denial* 






IV CONTENTS* 



CONVERSATION IV. 

Page 

!• That the way to true evangelical piety is the 
purity of the foul, and communion with God, 
2. Of true boohs and true teachers, 6. Of 
prayer* 14. How to acquire it* 35 



CONVERSATION V. 

I. Of the loft judgment. 3. How God will 
he glorified therein ; and how de fir able it is to 
thofe who purely love God* 8. The wonders 
of that day. 37. The lafl, and flill greater 
wonders of the fame day. 48, Cvnchfj 51 



CONTENTS 



OF THE 



BUNCH OF VIOLETS. 



D 



Page. 
EDICATION »* . ;* v .> - 71 

Preface ------- 73 

Walks in a Garden : Epiftle the Firft - - 77 

Epiftle the Second - - - - - g4 

Epiflle the Third 92 

Epiftle the Fourth ----- 97 

EVANGELICAL POEMS. 

Soliloquy on the Vanity of Life * - - 1 05 

The Search after Happinefs - - - 1QG 

A Morning's Invitation - * - - ill 

On the Birth of the adorable Jefus - - 113 

The Caterpillar and Butterfly - - 115 

On presenting a Rofe - - - 121 

Wrote extempore a little after Sunrife - 123 

Sharon's Rofe. Cant. ii. 1. - - «. 125 

An Aeroftic on Jefus Chrift - * - 126 

An Acroftic on one of ChrifVs Sheep - - 126 

The Believer addrefled by his Watch - 1 27 

, Deliverance from the Law as a Covenant of Works. 

Rom, vii. 4. - - - - 12g 

The New Covenant. Jer. xxxii. 33, 34, &c. - ibid. 

Everlafting Love. Jer. xxxi. 3. - - - 130 

Longing to be diflblved - - - - 131 

TheWifh 132 

A 2 



VI CONTENTS. 



EVANGELICAL MEDITATIONS. 



Page. 
Introduction -- - - - 135 

I. On the Microfcope - - - 135 

II. On hearing the Mufic before the Guards in St. 
James's Park - - - - 13(5 

III. On a Refe Seed 137 

IV. On a Violet - - - - 138 

V. On the Light and Influence' of the Sun - 1 40 

VI. On the BloiToms of an Almond Tree, which as 

fall as they grew, were picked off by the birds 1 42 

VII. On a Blade of Wheat - - - 145 

VIII. On following a Perfon that carried a Bafket of 
fweet Flowers - - - - 148 

IX On the Dew - - - 152 

X. On feeing a Cherry Tree, whofe BloiToms were 
fetting for Fruit - - - - - 151 

XI. On the Soul's Health, or Cure of the Love of the 
World - - - 158 

XII. On Regeneration - - - 162 

XIII. On Faith - - - - 164 

XIV. On Grace - - - - 167 

XV. On Salvation by Chrift - -^ - 170 

XVI. Comfortable, divine, and evangelical Senten- 
ces - - - - - 173 



DEDICATION 



TO 



JE S US CHRIST. 



W HAT feems but fmall in other's eyes, 
Thou, gracious Lord, doft not defpife. 
Thy birth to ihepherds was raveal'd, 
When from the rich and great conceal'd. 
Thou lov'ft to babes to fhew thy face, 
And make their cups overflow with grace : 
Such little ones thy goodnefs prove, 
And foar on wings of faith and love ; 
Whilft wife and mighty, chain' d in pride, 
Thy wifdom and thy crofs deride. 
I pray thee, Lord, this fhepherd take, 
And blefs him, for thy own name's/ifake c 
Permit him, Lord, in Englifh drefs, 
To preach the glories of thy grace ; 
That rich and poor, that high and low, 
And young and old, to thee may bow ; 
That all may join to praife thy name, 
And fing thy worthy, endlefs fame. 
Dear Lord, but grant me this requeft, 
To thy fweet care I leave the reft : 
And at thy wounded, pierced feet, 
With Mary, I will take my feat. 



CORNELIUS CAYLEY, 



Aprils 



1762. 



PREFACE 



TO THE 



R E A D E R. 



X H E following extraordinary account con- 
tains the fubftance of feveral conversations which palled 
in France, between a miniiter and a young ihepherd, 
both of that country. They happened to meet together 
in a journey, which they continued together for ibme 
days. The fnepherd*s converfation made fuch an impref- 
fion upon the miniiter, that he fent a letter to a friend, 
giving him a particular relation of the fame. It was af- 
terwards made public, and palled through the fourth 
edition abroad, in the Year 1648. 

In the French preface, the author laments, that his ac- 
count of thefe converfations falls very fhor i of the fim- 
plicity, beam.-, and energv of the language in which the 
ihepherd fpake. This may account to the reader, for fev- 
eral phrafes that feem above a country ihepherd's capac- 
ity ; for when one perfon relates what another has laid 
to him, it is natural to do it in fuch a flyle as is moft 
familiar to I -imielf, whether learned or unlearned. How- 
ever, the reader may perceive enough in the following 
account to make him admire and adore the gocdnefs and 
power of God, fo remarkably difplayed in this young 
ihepherd ; whofe difcourfes, in many places, the reader 
may alfo perceive to be fo native and artlefs, as I think 
mult caufe him to admire his unadorned fimplicity of es- 
preflion, beyond the molt exacl and flu died difcourfes of 
human wiidom. 



X PREFACE. 

I would moreover warn every reader that the follow~ 
lug account is calculated more for the chriftian than the 
fcholar. I doubt not but every reader, who has a fpark 
• of the love of Chrift in him, will have his heart warmed 
by this afFedh'ug narrative. As for the nice critic, who 
overlooks the matter to pry into the nicetv and exadtnefs 
of words and exprefiions, it is very likely he may be dif- 
fatisfied with the poor fhepherd. But I would afk every 
perfon of this (lamp, whether he would refufe a diamond 
of great value, becaufe it was brought to him in a plain 
deal box ? I fancy not. Therefore, let not fuch mifpend 
their time in fo fruitlefs an employ as in critic'fing words, 
but in conhdering well the fubje<5t matter of this narra- 
tion ; which is highly worth the ferious attention of everv 
reader that defires his own eternal welfare. 

Again. I would offer a word to another fort of read- 
ers, who are gofpel profeflbrs ; and yet are difpofed 
overlook the riches of God's grace in many fouls, becaufe 
perhaps, they may not always exprefs themfelves in every 
word according to the niceft rules of orthodoxy. I would 
inform fuch readers, that there are many happy fouls, who 
are rich in faith, and warm with divine love, who cannot 
exprefs themfelves but in a very broken, imperfect man- 
ner ; whilft, on the contrary, many there are, who can 
fplit a hair, about exaclnefs in expreflion, who have nei- 
ther faith, nor love, but are full of pride and conceit. 
And the reafon is, becaufe, as the apoftle faith, " the 
•kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." There- 
fore I befeeeh fuch readers to remember, that God looks 
to the hearts of his children, and does not defpife them 
becaufe they can only lifp his grace in weak imperfect 
expreflions. As this is the cafe, let us learn to be united 
to one another more by the unity of the Spirit, than by a 
unity of words; and where this unity of the Spirit is, 
there iliould be much forbearance, and long fuffering, 
and gentienefs, ufed with one another, about the outward 
garment of expreilion ; which, in a great meafure de- 
pends upon education and cuflom, and thofe with whom 
we chiefly converfe. 



PREFACE. XI 

With regard to what I have to fay about my own 
fhare in the following work, I fhall in this particular be 
very brief. 

My motive for putting the following account into an 
Engliih drefs, was a ftrong perfuafion that it would be 
for God's glory, and the benefit of Chrift's fmcere follow- 
ers of every, denomination., And I doubt not but Jefus 
Chrift: will make this poor fhepherd a preacher to many 
fouls. 

As to the tranflation, I have only to fay that, accord- 
ing to the ability given me of God, I have done it as well 
as I could. One thing though I muff mention, that I 
have endeavoured to make the ihepherd fpeak as plain in 
Engliih ag in his native tongue, chooung to avoid any 
drelfing or adorning of his language, however homely in 
Come places the phrafeology may appear ; and I think 
every judicious reader will approve of this ; for the glorv 
of God is greatly illuftrated, when we hear the moil fub- 
lime fecrets of religion ftammered from the mouths of 
babes and fucklings, in their own artlefs, fimple, unaffect- 
ed language ; by which they plainly prove that what they 
have received is not from man, but from God. And blefi- 
ed are they that are not offended with them. 

I have alfo taken the liberty to interfperfe many little 
notes and remarks throughout tin's narrative, hoping they 
may be helpful to illuftrate fome paffages, and make them 
more clear. The reader will alfo fee that in feveral par- 
ticular remarks, 1 have fpoke my mind quite freely, with- 
out concerning myfelf who may, or may not, be pleafed 
with mg for fo doing. Only remember this, that what I 
have done of this kind, proceeded from a defire of God's 
glory, and a fpirit of love to man, that heartily defires the 
welfare of the followers of Chrift, of every fe6t, name, 
and denomination whatfoever. Furthermore, let the rea- 
der obferve, that none of my remarks are defigned to aim 
at any particular perfon3 ; but wherefoever the cap will 
fit, there let it be taken and put on, that fuch may be 
humbled and repent. 



Xll PREFACE. 

- 

And now, friend reader, I will detain thee no longei 
in the porch, but invite thee to go into the houfe. to fit 
down and feafl: on what God has here provided for chee. 
If the entertainment is plain, yet thou may eft find it very 
wholefome and edifying to thy foul, which ought to be 
the end propofed. And in order that it may be fo, re- 
member to pray to God, that he may give thee his blef- 
fing along with it. And I earneftly befeech thee, if thou 
knoweft what it is to have accefs unto the Father by 
Jefus Chrift, don't forget to pray for him, who has noth- 
ing to boaft of, but the unchanging "mercy and loving 
kindnefs of God his Saviour ;" to whofe bleiiing, chriftiai* 
reader j I now commend thee, and am, for his fake, 



Thy friend and fervant, 

CORNELIUS CAYLEY. 

■JMonni fireely 
Aprils 1762. 



THE 



SERAPHICAL SHEPHERD, 



CONVERSATION I- 

1 . Thejirjl meeting with this Shepherd, and defcnp=> 
tion of his perfon. — 4. Of his grace, and fpiritual 
gifts* — -7« His difcourfes upon union with God, — 
upon growth in grace — -fufferings and prayer. — 11. 
The illumination of the foul ; inward operations of 
the Spirit.— 1 5. The danger of ' human praife, 



I 



WISH I had a fufficient capacity tore- 
cite at large, (and a fufficiency of light to ex- 
prefs) the particulars of an extraordinary bleff- 
ing, the Almighty bellowed upon me in leaving 
my own country ; who caufed me, by his 
providence, to meet with one of the moft re- 
markable perfons I ever knew ; and from 
whom I learned many wonderful and divine fe- 
crets. 

2. I found in the machine juft by me a 
youth about eighteen or nineteen years of 

B 



14 The Seraphkal Shepherd 

age, extremely Ample and plain in his fpeech,. 
and without any learning ; wTfrb, after having 
been a fervant from his infancy, was now a 
fhepherd, but fp enriched and filled with the 
grace of God, and the moft fublime fpiritual 
gifts and graces, that I never faw the like. 

3. He was never inftrufted by any but 
God in the fpiritual life ; and yet he enlarg- 
ed to me on this fubjecl:, with fo much fub- 
limity, abundance, and folidity, that I never 
beard or read any thing to be compared with- 
it. 

4. As foon as Ihaddifcoveredthis treafure, I 
feparated myfelf from the reft of the company* 
at meals and at other times, that I might 
be with him alone as much as I could. In the 
intervals of our difccurfe, he was continually in 
prayer j in which, he was very, fublime : the 
tumultuous agitations of his paflions being im- 
perfections, as he told me, that God had deliv- 
ered him from ; though in the beginnings of his 
fpiritual courfe, he was more alive to them. 

His whole foul appeared to be filled with a 
great fimplicity, and a profound humility. 

By means of his fimplicity, I difcovered many 
choice fecrets of his foul, whilft at the fame 
time his humility fecreted from me many oth- 
ers. 

5. During the three days we were together, 
I put him upon difcourfmg on all the various 

particulars of fpiritual things, as well fpecula- 
tive as practical ; which he did in fuch a manner 
ai filled me with aftonilhment^ 



The Seraph'ieal Shepherd. 15 

b\ When he perceived fometimes how much 
he had laid, he would throw himfeif down at my 
feet, to humble himfeif ; for we frequently got 
out of the machine and walked, that we might 
converfe with more cafe and lefs interruption. 

He believed himfeif, and was allured that he 
was the greatelt {inner in the world ; and earn- 
eftly prayed and entreated me to think the fame 
of him. 

7» He difcourfed me one whole morning upon 
the different degrees of the foul's intimate union 
with God ; of the communications of the bleffed 
Trinity, diftincrly to be experienced ; and of the 
inconceivable familiarity that God ufeth with 
thofe whofe hearts are purified by faith. 

He told me alio of the fecrets that God had 
communicated to him touching his attributes ; 
and particularly of his juftlce upon thofe fouls 
who relied fliort of the chriftian mark ; alfo of 
the different ranks of faints'and angels. 

Amongft other things he told me, he would 
not exchange one {ingle enjo>lnent, that he re- 
ceived from God in communion with him, for 
all that the angels in glory, or men put together, 
could bellow upon him. 

He told me, that a foul that walked in the 
true light, was fo filled with God, that ail its 
motions were under the influence of God's pow- 
er, even extending to the body, except fome lit- 
tle wanderings, in which the foul fins. Thefe 
were his own words. 

He tola me nothing advances a foul more 
than felf knowledge, and plain dealing with it- 



1 6 , The Seraphical Shepherd. 

felf in what was not right : that it was not fuffiU 
cient to pray for the higheft attainments in 
grace, but that violent efforts were neceffary ; 
and that it was people's own fault if they did not 
advance in conquefts over felf. 

That it was a great misfortune, that a right 
tife was not made of fuiferings and bodily in- 
firmities, in which God had great defigns ; 
that he united himfelf to the foul more per- 
fectly in tribulations than in delectations ; and 
that a too fcruDulous and nice care of one's 
bodliy health was a great hinderance to the 
foul. 
*■ That true prayer confifts not in giving to 
God, but in receiving from him ; and after hav- 
ing received from him, to return it back again in 
love 

That when the love of God increafes to a de- 
gree of ecftacy, the foul's fidelity confifts in fly- 
ing from, and being ftript of all, in proportion as 
Qod approaches to fill it. 

8, I propofed to him, in the character of an- 
other perfon, all my own fpiritual difficulties ; 
on which he fo fatisfactorily refolved me, that I 
thought he was an angeL He never would 
promife to pray for me, for that, he faid, was 
not in his own power ; but he would do it when 
God gave him the ability. 

9. In fhort, he difplayed fuch a variety of ex- 
cellent fpiritual matters, that I cannot put them 

. in writing ; and I am perfuaded, that thefe three 
days were more profitable tome than n:*ny paft 
years of my life. 



The Seraphlcal Shepherd, 17 

10. What I found moil remarkable in this 
youth was, an admirable prudence ; and an ex- 
traordinary energy and power attended his words. 

11. He told me that the fupernatural light 
that God pours into the foul, caufes it to fee 
what it fhould do, more clearly than ths light 
of the fun difc overs fenfible objects ; and that 
the multitude of things that fuch a foul difcov- 
ers in itfelf, is far greater than all that is to be 
found in bodily nature. That God in all his 
greatnefs dwells (and makes himfelf fenfibly per- 
ceived) in the faithful, fimple, and pure foul. 

12. I urged him to tell me, if no body had 
inftru&ed him in thefe things ? He faid, no ; 
and that there were feme fouls that got more 
hurt than good by human teaching. That 
to fuch foals as were under the Spirit's teach- 
ings, God is always prefent ; and that he alone 
dwells in them ; and that when charity leads 
them to cenverfe with others, they receive great 
communications from God ; and that when in 
the night in their fleep, they lofe very little time, 
being taught then as well as in the day. He 
told me alio, though the Bible was to be de~ 
ftroyed, God had taught him enough for his 
own falvation. 

I afked him how thefe things were ? He an- 
fwered, that I knew better than he, and that he 
was the moft ignorant of all people. 

13. He told me that Chrift had particularly 
taught him to excufe (and bear with) his fellow 
creatures, and not to be harfh and bitter towards 
them. 

B2 



4 8 The Seraphic at l Shepherd. 

He told me wonderful things, for the confo- 
lation and direction of fucli who were drawn af- 
ter the purfuit of fpiritual things, and yet were 
hindered by bodily infirmities : that God re- 
quired of fuch much patience ; after which, if 
they faithfully fubmitted to thefe trials, he would 
prefently fet all things to rights again. 

14. One of his raoft elevated difcourfes was, 
how God works all things in the hearts of his 
children by Chrift the true and living Word, 
and of the near relation they have to him by his 
Son, in all their difpofltions, and even in their 
bufferings. 

15. He told me that men of our profeflion, 
that did not renounce the pleafure of human 
praife, would never truly enjoy God : that 
fuch perfons are thieves and robbers ; and that 
their darknefs would increafe more and more*. 

That the fmalleft unprofitable matter darkens 
the foul, 

That which hinders the freedom of the foul, is 
a certain habitual di -Hi mutation which reitrains it. 
Thefe were his own expreffions. 

At laft I parted from him, he afking me a 
thoufand pardons, for having fpoke with fo 
much pride, he who was fo incapable to praife 
and honour God. He faid that it did not be- 

* Let all minivers of the gofpel, and private chriuians 
too, confider well' ©f this ! and examine theirielves very 
clofely in all their religious duties, whether or no in the fe- 
cret of their fouls, they are really feeking to difplay God's 
orlory, or their own. If a man has gifts like an angel, and 
i.eks his own honour thereby, he is, in God's fight, a dev$ 
in difs uiffL 



The Seraphica! Shephzrd. IB 

pome him to fpeak to others by words, but by 
a fimple and humble behaviour.* He faid, 
moreover, that the familiarities of God with 
the foul, ought to be kept in a proper fecrecy 
and filence ; that God willed it mould be 
fo. 

16. Indeed I found it nece/Tary to ufe great 
indudry to get any thing from him : fometimes 
making as if I took no notice of him ; other 
times telling; him it was charitv to entertain me 
with fome difcourfe, as I could not always 
fpeak ; and then he would lay afide all con- 
ftraint, and quite enflamed with divine love, 
would fpeak according as the Spirit of God gave 
him ability ; and with much liberty. As foon 
as I a^flced him to pray for me, he would be 
fomewhat (lopped, being extremely humble, and 
thinking himfelf the leaft of all. What I have 
here related contains the fubdance of our firft 
converfation ; in which he opened himfelf much 
more than he defiened. 



o 



Nothing hinders the foul's progrefs more, than a 
pronenefs to much talk ! Many, when they ought to be. 
learning in ft'llneis at Chrifl's feet, are lavishing away what 
little they have, in noife and words, I will venture to fay, 
that the prevailing* cuftom of running on and talking of 
religious matters, without any degree of fpirituai favour, or 
divine unition, is very pernicious to the divine life, and 
grieving to the fpirit of God. Let chriftians learn to put 
a bridle in their mouths ! Let them know, that though they 
talk never fo much, if it comes not from Chrifl's Spirit, 
it Is only mere "vanity and vexation of fpirit. 5 ' 



20 The Seraphtcal Shepherch 



CONVERSATION II. 



] . Of the fountain of good thoughts and acJlons* — 6- 
Difference between God* men, and devils. — 7. Con- 
Jideratlon of the fufferings of Chrlji ; and alfo of 
Qur own. — 9 . Grace the fountain of all virtues . 




H E fecond aonverfation I had with 
our Shepherd, he fpoke to me chiefly of cur 
daily duties and religious practices. 

2. He told me that every day we ought to be 
looking unto the excellences of Jefus Cfirift ; to 
adore them, and to defire them. 

3. That after we had been never fo long en- 
gaged in earneftly feeking after God, if we re- 
ceived one good fpiritual thought, we ought to 
think ourfelves well paid, beyond our merit ; 
and that we ought to honour it as a prefent from 
paradife, as the bread that nourishes faints and 

els. 
4>. He told me that when he propofed any 
thing in prayer, he never faid, that henceforth 
he would do fuch and fuch a good thing, or re- 
fill fuch and fuch a vice ; for it was preemp- 
tion : but that he offered himfelf unto God as 
an unworthy mftrument in his hands, to enable 
him by his grace to refill fuch a vice, and to do 
fuch a good action. So that in cafe he fucceed- 
ed, he thanked God for accepting and making 
ufe of him ; and if he did not fucceed in fome 
fuch good defign, he did not make himfelf unea.- 



2"H <r 



Thj Seraph'ical Shepherd* 21 

fj, as God was not under any obligation to make 
uie of liim therein.* 

5. He told me, that if the devils, after a thou> 
fand years Ferings could have one good 
thought, they would know it came from 
God ; hut that their feeing heaven and happi- 
nefs at a J.htance from them, was the caufe of 
their defpair and mifery. 

6. He made an excellent remark, touching 
the whole of intellectual nature ; as containing 
God, angels, and men ; and putting the good 
angels in the fame clafs with men, he placed 
devils in the third clafs, in the following order : 
God, men, and devils. He faid, that goodnefs 
was infeparable from God — bis ju^ice infepa- 
rable from devils — -and that his mercy was in- 
feparable from good angels and me$$ fo that 
nothing but the mere mercy of God diilinguim- 
ed us from devils ; and that whatever good 
thing was to be found in angels or men beyond 
devils, they were indebted for the fame entirely 
and alone to the pure mercy of God. 

7- One thing that [truck me with aftomfiment 
in the difcourfe of this Shepherd was, his faying 

* Reader, let this be a leffcn ! Many are the mi (carriages 
that chriftians fufFer in their good 'defigns, through a pre- 
fuming too much upon their own ftrength. True humility 
teaches, to have no confidence in ourfeives ; but to have 
our whole dependence upon him. who " worketh in us 
both to will and to do cf his own good pleafure.' ? St. 
Paul faid he was not " fufficient of himfelf to think a good 
thought," and yet he could do " all things through 
drift ftrengthening him.' J Though it is right to diftruft 
ourfeives, wemuft not diftruft God; but confide entirely 
m him. 



22 The Seraphlcal Shepherd. 

that every time the fufferings of Chrift were rep- 
refented to him, that it was alio reprefenting 
to him, that it was the Father who judged his 
Son to die ; and that he was c bilged to adore 
the juftice of the Father in not fparing his Son ; 
and that a particular homage was due to God 
for fuch judgment. Then reflecting upon his 
own finful foul and bodv, he would confider 
the forrows and griefs that he might fuftain 
himfelf ; and then would adore God for his 
juftice in fo afflicting him- After that he would 
return to confider the fufferings of the Son of 
God, both in foul and body, and adore hirn for 
them ; then defcending again to think of his own 
forrows, he would be thankful for them as inflict- 
ed by a juft God. 

8> He faid moreover upon this fubject, that it 
is not enough to adore Jeius Chrift in his fuffer- 
ings, but alio we ought to adore his gracious 
intentions towards us in his fufferings and death, 
and every thing elfe in him that was hid beyond 
our capacity to under ftand ; that the fovereign 
dignity of the Son of God made this adoration 
our duty, even if it was not to our own profit or 
advantage, 

9. Finally, he faid, that we ought often to ad- 
drefs ourielves to Jeius Chrift in prayer ; that 
through the grace which is in him, as a faithful 
minifter, and the doer of all goodnefs, we might 
be introduced into his patience, charity, gentle- 
nefs, and all other virtues which we adore and 
acknowledge in him ; and that when we were 
fy bleifed, we fbould attribute nothing to our 



The Seraphical Shepherd. 2S 

own induftry, but acknowledge ourfelves entire- 
ly indebted for the fame to his grace alone ; 
and that he believed this made St. Paul fay fo 
often, " Yet not I, but the grace of God which 
was in me," &c. — 1 Cor. xv. 10. 



j gi jg i um awwtwM— MM 



CONVERSATION III. 

1. The caufe of the foul's trouble. — 3. The greatnefs 
of man's corruption, and impotance by nature. — 
6. Of ChriJPs dominion over fouls. — 8. Of the love 
of our neighbour. — 18. Of the love and praclice of 

godlimfs. — 2i j . Facility of religious progrefs. Of 

felf denial. 



s 



INCE the fecond converfation I had 
with my Shepherd, already mentioned, behold 
a third ! which I hardly know how to put into 
writing, becaufe it contains the moft fublime 
and hidden precepts of religion, under the garb 
* of very fimple and plain doctrine in appear- 
ance. 

2. In this difcourfe, he told me, that many 
great foul troubles that numbers of chriftians 
groaned under for feveral years, were frequently 
owing to their not being fenfible of being by 
nature under the captivity of the law of fin ; and 
without power to do any good ; and for this 
reafon it was, that God often permitted iuch per- 
fons to go on many years in the obfervance of 
their own rulers, gi-atly defiring religious prog- 
refs, without being able^ to get the better of 



T - ~ 

§4< The Seraphic al Shepherd* 

any vice ; or to acquire any defirable goodnefe 
All which was in order that they might learn to 
know their own inability ; and to feek from God 
alone the neceffary power to conquer fin, and to 
acquire thofe things which they could not rind 
in themfelves.* 

3. He convinced me in a few words, how 
that to entertain a thought of any power or vir- 
tue in ourfelves, was nothing but prefumptionj 
deceit, and grofs deluflon ; and thus he proved 
it. All the power that accompanies the natural 
being which we derive from Adam, as it relates 
to the matter of our falvation, is only fuch a 

* This is a very juft remark of the Shepherd's. For 
many poor hearts toil and labour, to" gather grapes from 
thorns, and figs from thirties ; ' not confidering that 
weighty admonition of Jefus Chriil:, viz. Firft, to " make 
the tree good, and then the fruit fliall be good.' s We 
are made good trees by union with Jefus Chrilt ; and 
then the divine fap of his biened pnd Holy Spirit makes 
us capable of 4i bringing forth fruit unto God :" yet not 
we, but Chrift who liveth in us, " who is made unto us 
of Godw'fdom and righteoufiiefs,and fanetification,and re- 
demption." Oh, what a treafure is Jefus Chrift ! bleiled 
be God for Jefus Chrift ! In the following beauteous lines, 
I have fomewhere met with, I will tell thee, O reader ! 
what Chrift. is to me. 

To all mv vilenefs, Chrift is elorv bright, 
To all my miferies, infinite delight ; 
To all my ignorance , wife without compare, 
To my deformity, tlr eternal fair. 
Sight to my blindnefs, to my meannefs, wealth, 
Life to my death, and to my ficknefs, health ; 
To darknefs, light, my liberty, inthrali : 
What ihall I fay ? my Chrift, my All in All f 

Amen. Hallelujah. 



The Seraphical Shepherd, 2jr 

power as he had after he had firmed, for "he be- 
gat fons in his own likenefs," which is only a pow- 
er to all evil and vice, which more properly is 
weaknefs, and not power. It is eafy to fee then, 
that we are born in fin and weaknefs, and that 
it is infeparable from our nature, as touching 
the fubftance of Adam, which is the body ; 
and becaufe the foul created by God, from 
whom it derived power to do good by its free 
will, enters into the finful body ; it is alio entan- 
gled in the diforder of Adam's fallen nature ; 
by which both reafon and will are become dark 
and corrupt ; fo that we ought to confider our- 
felves as iurounded with impotency end weak- 
nefs on every fide.* 

For which reafon he fald, we ought to re- 
nounce this deplorable power of Adam, which 
is in us to our prejudice ; and that the only way 
of falvation is to renounce that which is of Ad- 
am in us, and all that we have derived from 
him, that fo the Spirit of Jems Chrift may be 
eftabliihed in its place ; as alfo the power, cour- 
age, grace, and light that flow from this fountain, 
the Lord Jefus Chrift. 

4. It is neceflary, the Shepherd faid, to take 

* When ttns truth is experimentally known in the 
heart, then is Chrifl: and his falvation as acceptable to the 
foul, as the gentle rain is to the new mown grafs. Read- 
er ! if thou knoweft. this to be thy cafe, remember, God 
has laid help upon one that is mighty ; even one who re- 
ceives the weary, haw laden finner, when he hath got 
nothing to pay. For thy further help, I refer thee to 
what this honefl Shepherd fays upon prayer, in his fourtk 
tonverfation. 

c 



26 The Seraphlcal Shepherd* 

a daily review of our mifery ; not fuch as we fee 
it, for our eyes flatter us, becaufe they are of us ; 
but in fuch a manner as God fees it. 

5. He faid, that if we had never fo fmall a de- 
Are to be united to Jefus Chrift and to be devot- 
ed to him, we fhould take pleafure in getting 
rid of our own will and natural, propenfities, 
that we might be ruled by Jefus Chrift ; praying 
him to take the government of our fouls ; feeing 
moreover, that by his incarnation and death, he 
has acquired ajuftright over finners. 

6. No fooner had this devout Shepherd finifh- 
ed thefe laft words of the right and title that Je- 
fus Chrift has acquired over us by his death, 
feut lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, he 
remained near a quarter of an hour as one de- 
prived of all fenfe. His coming to himfelf I 
waited for with impatience. At laft, with a pro- 
found figh, he broke forth into the following ex- 
preffions — " Since it is fo, that the Son of God 
has bought me with his blood, and has won me 
by his death ; and that by this blood applied in 
my favour, vile and defpicable Shepherd as I 
am ! I am an adopted fon of the natural Son of 
God ; I am his own as much by right and juftice, 
as he is his Father's by nature ; infomuch that as 
he cannot deny that relation without deftroying 
the dignity of his Father ; fo I, defpicable Shep- 
herd, who am his adopted fon, and over whom 
he has gained fo abfolute a right, that I cannot 
deny it or refufe it without committing very 
great injuftice, and deftroying, as much as in me 
Res, the greatnefs and excellency of the Son #f 



The Seraphical Shepherd* 27 

God, confidered as a Mediator and Redeemer. 
This is the reafon why we muft diligently re- 
nounce and withdraw from every thing that con- 
tradicts, never fo little, this perfect right of do- 
minion that Chrift has over us. 

" If then the world by its flatteries draws us 
to comply with it ; if the devil |>y his gilded baits 
injected into our fouls ; if the fkfh by its allure- 
ments and felf pleafings to gratify ourfelves 
or others ; I fay, if any of thefe allure our minds 
never fo little from a clofe attachment to Jefus 
Chrift, and the right he has over us, we muft 
renounce them alL" 

7» He faid, that as often as the foul refufes any 
thought, word, or action, that tends to draw it 
from its allegiance to Jefus Chrift, that thefe are 
fo many facrifices, homages, and renewing of 
vows ; by which fuch perfons own the right and 
title of Chrift to them, and his dominion over 
them. 

How mujl iv e love our neighbour. 

8. I know not whether this angelical Shepherd, 
in the ecftacy of his fpirit, had not fome difcern- 
ment, or charitable fear, that my foul was apt to 
be too ftrongly attached to that which was amia- 
ble in the creature, to the prejudice of his Re- 
deemer ; for he pafTed from this difcourfe, fo 
excellently, to the great and fublime love that 
Chrift's right over us required from us his due, 
that I was quite penetrated and aftoniihed. 

9. Since then, faid he, men and angels are be- 
come the right and property of Jefus Chrift, they 
are no longer to live to themfelves, but to him * 



%8 The Seraphical Shepherd, 

and confequently they may not place their 
hearts and affections upon any creatures, further 
than it is agreeable to the mind and will of the 
Redeemer. So that I cannot juftlj withdraw 
my heart from Chrift, to put it in another's 
power, nor receive another into my heart with- 
out injuftice and robbery ; unlefs upon the fol- 
lowing conditions. 1. That I love a perfon for 
ChrirVs fake, becaufe he loves him and takes 
pleafure to blefs him. % Becaufe he commands 
me to receive and love fuch a one, as a member 
of his body. 3. That I love fuch a one in the 
manner he does ; it being- natural to Chrift, to 
love in the creature what he fees of his own there, 
either of nature or of grace $ he being the fource 
of both. 

10. He alfo told me, we have three amiable 
objects ; God, our neighbour, and ourfelves. 
That we ihould love God with a refpe&ful 
heart ; our neighbour with a tender, mother- 
like heart ; and ourfelves with a judge's feveri- 
ty ; our fmfulnefs making this but juftice fo to 
do. 

11. He told me, moreover, that when we faw 
a creature dlfpofed to love and ferve us with an 
unreafonable affection, we mould regret, that 
a heart that might love God, mould be fo taken 
up with us ; and that we mould be forry to oc- 
cupy that place in fuch a one's heart, that of 
right belonged to our glorious fovereign Lover, 
and Redeemer, Jefus Cliriit. That in order to 
remedy this evil, we mould endeavour to difplay 
the fruits of Jefus Chrift in our words and be?. 



■HHJBM 



The Seraphical Shepherd. 29 

haviour ; that fo, fuch perfons feeing in us 
fome features of his beauty, might come to love 
him in us : and thus we might be beloved 
without prejudice to our Redeemer. 

12. That which pleafed me the raoft in this 
difcourfe of my Seraphic Shepherd, was the 
following conclufion ; with which I was fo fatif- 
iied, that I don't think I could have a more 
perfect, eafy, reafonable and judicious method of 
regulating my love. He mentioned to me the 
comparifon which Chrift made between our 
hearts and the kingdom of God. Who laid to 
his difciples, " the kingdom of God is within 
you. " Upon which the Shepherd took occafion 
to obferve, that the figures and natural fimili- 
tudes which Jefus Chrift made ufe of to illuftrate 
heavenly things, were very excellent and fuita- 
ble to his defigns ; and that if we labour to have 
our hearts formed after the model of the king- 
dom of heaven, we mould have both divine and 
human affections under proper regulations ; and 
the fenfitive or animal part would not hinder 
the more rational and better part. 

13. In the kingdom of heaven, which is par- 
adife, God is willing to admit his creatures into 
fellowship with himfelf ; fo is he willing we 
fhould admit others into the fpiritual kingdom 
which is in our hearts. In heaven, fuch are free- 
ly admitted who are warned from their fms ; fo 
alfo, fuch may be received into our hearts with 
Chrift. In heaven, amongft all the different de- 
grees of faints, none prefume like Lucifer to oc- 
cupy the higheft place ; for God reigns there as 

C2 



50 The Seraphic al Shepherd* 

king. For the fame reafon our hearts are called 
his kingdom, and his acquired dominion ; be- 
caufe he not only reigns in our hearts, but is 
preferred there to all thofe whom we have ad- 
mitted into our love for his fake, " that in all 
things he might have the preeminence. " 

14. Thus it is allowed us to admit others into 
our affections, that fo we mav altogether em- 
brace one another at the adorable feet of the 
King of Love, as children who play before their 
father, or as fubjects before their king ; and fo 
urge and excite each other to fall down like 
Mary Magdalene, and to embrace the feet of 
Jems Chrift our Saviour and fovereign King of 
Hearts. 

15. We may alfo imagine that he takes pleaf. 
lire to fee us united in one defign to pleafe him ; 
and waiting to know his commands, that we 
may be re°dy mutually to unite all our power 
and induftry to employ the grace he has be- 
llowed upon us only to his glory ; and if we 
love one another in this manner, we may rejoice 
in Chrift's rule over us ; and as one company, 
behold the Redeemer reigning over each one of 
us ; being well fatisfied that Chrift mould con- 
tinue this kingdom in us. 

16. Finally, he told me, that if we found Jefus 
Chrift did not reip;n over us fo much as we wi£h- 
ed for, that we Ihould be continually crying to 
him, " Let thy kingdom come!" and never 
ceafe fo doing till we obtained the fame. 

17. In concluding this affectionate difcourfe, 
he told me, God only required thefe three things 



The Seraphic al Shepherd* 31 

ef us.— 1. That we fhould prefer eternity to 
time. — 2. The foul to the body. — 3. The Crea- 
tor to the creature ; and that all this was fo rea- 
fonable, that no perfon in his fenfes could deny it, 
How <we ought to love 'virtue. 

18. After my Shepherd had finiihed his dif- 
courfe upon the right method of loving the crea- 
ture, he proceeded to fhow unto me how we 
ought to love virtue ; faying, that we (hould not 
love or efteem it barely for its excellency in itfelf 
or in us, this being only philofophical ; but that 
we ought to love it, becaufe of its beauty and 
excellency in Jefus Chrift ; and then we loved it 
in a chriftian manner. For in itfelf, and in us, 
fmgly confidered, 'tis but human and natural ; 
but in Jefus Chrift it is all divine and fupernatu- 
ral. Love then virtue, becaufe it is in him ; 
and practife it diligently, becaufe Chrift practifed 
it. 

19. Hence, faid he, we come to learn the 
great advantages which mankind derives from 
the being of Jefus Chrift. For as the nature of 
an animal is much more excellent in a man than 
in a brute, becaufe it is united to a reafonable 
foul ; fo men receive from Chrift a much more 
excellent being, by union with him, than their 
natural being ; becaufe the human nature in 
Chrift is united to his divine nature, which is 
God. 

20. Animal actions are much more noble, as 
acted by men, than by brutes ; and we take more 
pleafure in feeing them performed by men than 
by brutes. 



$2 The Seraphual Shepherd. 

Thus we may eafily believe that human ac- 
tions are much nobler, as performed by the in- 
carnate Son of God, than by men ; and we 
ought to take more pleafure in contemplating 
them in him, than in themfelves, or in us, as 
confidered feparate from him. In Jefus Chrift 
all human a&ions are fan&ified and divine, be- 
caufe he is God. If animals could contemplate 
their adlions, as done by man, and could imitate 
them, and do them in the fame manner as man 
doth, then they might be called reafonable. By 
this we may fee how man by contemplating hu- 
man adtions as done by Jefus Chrift, and doing 
them after that model, fuch a&ions become 
fanctified ; and in a fenfe may be called divine, 
as being done by Chrift's Spirit ; which makes 
fuch adlions done by the faints, holy, chriftian, 
and fupernatural ; owing to the relation they 
have to Jefus Chrift, which if a great honour.* 

21. He alfo told me, that God's fervants, in 
this life, may take fome recreation in honeft and 

* The Apoftle Paul informs us, that *' the firft man is 
of the earth, earthy : the fecond man is the Lord from 
heaven. As is the earthly, fuch are they alfo that are 
earthly ; and as is the heavenly, fuch are they alfo that are 
heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earth- 
ly, we fhall alfo bear the image of the heavenly." 1 Cor. 
xv. 47, 48, 49. From whence we may learn what an 
amazing dignity man receives by.union with Jefus Chrift ; 
when, by virtue of " regeneration, the being born again 
of incorruptible feed," he no longer lives, but Chrift live* 
in him ; even that " Chrift, in whom dwelleth all the full- 
nefs of the Godhead bodily.' * Bleffed are they who are 
divinely taught to fell all lives, to obtain this eternal, in- 
corruptible, perfect life of Chrift in God ! 



The Seraphic al Shepherd. 33 

lawful anions ;" but in order to make them more 
complete, we fhould confider them fan&ified 
not in us, but in the infancy of Jefus Chrift ; 
where they may have been in a very perfect 
manner ; and added, that if we did thefe things 
m fuch a view of ChriiVs actions, which were 
pure, fimple, and innocent, it was a way to re- 
vive in us the holy infancy or fimplicity of Jefus.* 

22. From all which, it is eafy to fee, that our 
human actions, and our aits of moral virtue, 
have no other excellence or perfection, than 
what they derive from the incarnate Word, our 
Redeemer, in whom they are done. With re- 
gard to the ir merit, they have none, but what 
they borrow from Jefus Chrifi. It is our priv- 
ilege to be found doing them ; and it belongs 
to Chrift, as judge, to approve of them as he 
fees fit. 

23. He faid, we ought every day to prefent 
our actions to Chrift for his approbation or dis- 
approbation ; and to be prefflng forward, that 
they might be improving more and more. 

24. The end of this fweet and agreeable con- 
verfation was, that there were numbers of reli- 
gious perfons, through a timorouihefs and weak- 
mindednefs, inclined to draw back from the 
right way, through fear of the mortification of 

* When this maxim of the Shepherd's is rightly under- 
flood and practifed,it makes the moft common actions of 
our lives as fo many acts of devotion. " And whatfoever 
ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord 
Jefus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by him* 
ColoU iii. 17. See alfo 1 Cor. x. 31- 



'34? The Seraphical Shepherd* 

their nature and felf love. But, faid the Shep- 
herd, fear not ; for God does not require that 
nature, or the love of one's felf, fhould be de- 
ftroyed ; far from it. For without nature, we 
fhould not exifl: ; and without the love of one's 
felf, nature could not preferve its being ? But 
'tis the corruption and depravity in our nature 
by original iin, and the inordinate afFeclions of 
felf love, which caufe us to feek to gratify our- 
felves contrary to the order and righteoufnefs 
of God. 'Tis thefe diforders of nature and felf 
love that ought to be mortified and taken away, 
and not nature, or felf love, as confidered fepa- 
rate from thefe diforders. Therefore we are 
to deny ourfelves of all thofe things which na- 
ture or felf love may luft after, contrary to the 
mind and will of God.* 

* In this may we fee the goodnefs of God ; for whatever 
is contrary to his will, is contrary to our real welfare. It 
is a maxim in divinity, worthy everlafting rememberance 
and thankfulnefs, that whatever God commando his crea- 
tures to do, or to abftain from, he has not only confulted 
his own glory, but alfo their true Jiappinefs both in time 
and eternity. True religion is nothing but a bleiTed 
fcheme of divine love to bring back poor man from all 
his miferable wanderings, that he may find eternal reft 
and peace in Goc^ 



The Setaphical Shepherd. $5 



CONVERSATION IV. 

1. That the way to true evangelical piety is the pu- 
rity of the foul, and' communion with God, 2. 
Of true books, and true teachers, 6. Of prayer* 
14<. How to acquire it. 



s 



INCE God favoured me with the 
happy meeting and converfe of this Shepherd, 
he delighted me fo much that I quitted all com- 
pany, and every thing eife, to enjoy fo great a 
privilege. 

Having heard him difcourfe upon fome 
things which my pen is not able to exprefs, 
nor my underftanding to conceive, and doubt- 
ing by what fpirit he might be animated, I 
could not refrain entreating him to tell me, in 
confidence and chaiity, by what means his 
foul received fuch heavenly difcoveries. 

To which, without difficulty or delay, he 
fmilingly anfwered, That there was no occa- 
lion to afk the way, for that there was no 
other than the purity of the foul, and its com- 
munion with God. For, faid he, 'tis by the 
purity of the looking glafs* of the foul, that it 

* Who can help admiring- here, the beautiful and un- 
adorned umplicity of this paflage ! It feems to be an ex- 
cellent comment bpon the two following pafTages of 
fcripture — " BlefTed are the pure in heart, for they fhall 
fee God. > Matt. v. 8. And this : u We all with open (or 
unveiled) face, beholding, as in a looking glafs, the glory 
©f the Lord, are changed into the fame image from glory 
to glory," &c. 



36 The Seraphic al Shepherd, 

remains in quietnefs, and in a fituation fit to re- 
ceive upon it the luminous or lightfome face 
of God, who imprints his image upon it, by 
which means the foul comes to know him, fo 
far as this life will admit, and by the familiar 
and intimate communion and inter courfe that 
it has with God, and God with it, the foul is 
habituated to that refpect and purity of be- 
haviour and words, as is mo ft fitting the court 
of fuch a Prince, and* the affairs and myfteries 
that are there carried on. And it is owing to 
this, that a ruftic Shepherd, like myfelf, may. 
become an eloquent divine ; for in this royal 
academy I am inftructed. 

2. I aiked him, if he had not made ufe of 
fome fpiritual book, or fome inftruccor or teach- 
er ? He faid ves ; but that he made ufe of both 
in the Fountain, and had left the ftreams. That 
his fptritual book was the holy gofpel, and that 
his teacher was the Author of it. Ke faid he 
had fome deilreto make ufe of the directions of 
men, but he had obferved, that what one built 
up another pulled down ; which made him judge 
that fuch a contrariety of opinions could not 
proceed from the Spirit of God, which is not 
contrary to itfelf ; and for this reafon he ap- 
plied himfelf to the firft and bed Teacher, and 
to the fpiritual directions he hath left ' in the 
fcriptures. 

3. For, faid the Shepherd, fince prayer is io 
noble an action, that it dignifies thofe that prac- 
tife it, by the familiar converfation which it 
allows them in the court of the King of glory.- 



The Seraphlcal Shepherd. 37 

And ilnce the Son of God, the King of ages, 
by prayer convenes with men, and has fo highly 
praifed with recommending it, that in his directo- 
ry,* he continually teaches that we muft pray, 
and without ceafmg, it is not likely that he 
mould forget to teach us the way and manner,, 
how we ought to govern our fpirits in this acad- 
emy and royal court. So that having found 
the method very clear and plain, and which alfo 
Chrift confirmed to me by his own example, I 
thought I ought to follow it, and advance by 
his directions ; and if I could not advance by 
thele, I thought I ought never to expect it from 
the directions of men, who are generally big- 
oted to their own opinions. 

4. I do not fay this to reject or defpife the 
reading of good books, or the directions of un- 
derstanding and experienced men in fpiritual 
things ; for both may be very ufeful in their 
proper places. But, faid the Shepherd, I an- 
fwer you {imply, as to what relates to myfelf, and 
to let you know, that Jefus Chrift inftructs me 
more by his own fayings and actions recorded in 
the fcriptures ; and inftructs me better how to 
pray by the Spirit of his grace, than all the 
books and teachings of men in the world can 
do, I fpeak of fuch men, who, not following 
the light and inftinct of the divine Spirit, are 
led by their own fpirits ; and pretend, never- 
thelefs, to tie fouls to their modes and opinions ; 
• which being contrary to the divine conduct, dm 

* The name our Shepherd gives the fcriptures* 

D 



3$ The Seraphlcal Shepherd* 

much more hinder and lead fouls out of* th§ 
way, than they profit or help them.* 

Therefore I leave every one to their own 
liberty. But I earneftly wifh that thofe who 
conducl fouls, may themfelves firft be con- 
ducted by God's Spirit, and be entirely difm- 
terefled ; and that they may take care their 
inftructjons agree with God's inftru&ions ; and 
in this manner lead thofe fouls who have chofen 
them for their guides. But for my part, fays 
the Shepherd, converfmg inwardly with God, 
and outwardly with my fheep and little lamb- 
kins (who don't hinder me, but inftruci: me 
many ways) I fee no need to go into the city 
to feek for that which I find God gives me in 
the country and in folitude. 

* This is a very juft remark. For how many that take 
upon them toinftru6t others, are angry when Jefus Chrift 
leads their pupils beyond the fcanty meafure of their 
rules. Again, how many people deny the teachings o£ 
God in their own and other's fouls, becaufe thev do not 
agree with the opinion of fome man, whom they have fet 
up as an oracle inftead of Jefus Chrift. But I befeech all 
minifters, of every denomination, to fuffer Jefus Chrift: to 
teach his children as he pleafes ; and to take care, that 
whilft they are helpers of fouls, they do not prefume to have 
dominion over their faith ; a thing the apofiles themfelves 
would not do, And again, I befeech all people, of every 
denomination, that whilft thev honour the fervants of 
Chrift, ftill to remember their Mafter, and to look above 
all men to the great teacher, Jefus Chrift, as this honeft 
Shepherd did. Minifters are but under tutors to Jefus 
Chrift, and they fhould rejoice when their fcholars are 
ripe for their Mafter's teachings, by the immediate anoint- 
ings of his bleffed Spirit ; which often inftru els more in 
one moment, than all the minifters in the world can doim 
all their lives put together. See John vi. 45- 



The Seraphkal Shepherd. 3$ 

5. I aiked him, by what fteps he was firft 
introduced into this way, and continued to 
grow therein ; praying him to inftruct me j 
and that I would follow the fame, not as the 
inftruction of man, but of God by man. 

You will foon know, faid he, the right in* 
ftrudtor in this exercife. If it was a mortal, 
iinful man (however eminent he might be) his 
inftruftions might meet with fomething in your 
fpiritual or corporal nature, not difpofed to re* 
ceive them ; and if you did receive them, it 
might be through a conftrained fubmiffion to 
the man, which would be an unnatural violence, 
rather than a fweet alluring. But if the in- 
ftruclion comes from God (as God is the 
Creator of fouls, and the Father of our un- 
derftandings and wills,) you will perceive it 
eafily take place in you ; and your foul will be 
fo far from finding an oppofition, that it will be 
much pleafed with it : the foul perceiving it- 
felf fo highly dignified and bleil by it, in all its 
operations, that it will think itfelf created en 
purpofe for the practice of it. Receive then 
from me what follows, as a proof. 
Inflruclion for prayer. 

6. Before I applied myfelf to prayer, I want* 
ed to know what prayer was ; and feeking for 
it in my directory, cempofed by the Son of 
God, I learned it was nothing ehe but the 
intercourfe of the foul wiih God ; and that; 
when Chrift went to pray, he did nothing but 
withdraw apart, to fpeak to God his Father* 
from whence I difcovered two forts of prayer j 



4<® The Seraphical Shepherd. 

or two manners of difcourfing with God. One 
■in praifing and adoring him for his perfections- ; 
the other in making requefts to him. For fome- 
time?the Son of God, lifting his bodily eyes to 
heaven (to teach us to lift up the eyes of cur 
fouls,) ble(Ted and praifed, and gave thanks to 
his Father, on account of his proper excellences 
(and that in us is adoration.) Then at other 
times, he prayed that he would glorify his 
name ; and in his agony he prayed 10 be de- 
livered from evil, faying, " If it be pcfilble, let 
this cup pafs from me/' &c. 

7. As foon as I gained the knowledge of 
thefe two forts of prayer, as contained in this 
exercife, I cad my thoughts upon all intelleclaial 
creatures, as angels, men, and devils, to fee if 

'they were all capable of prayer. And that I 
might more eafiiy diftinguifh their capacity, 
I ranged them under three dalles, viz. fimple, 
or mere creatures ; finners, and adopted chil- 
dren of the Son of God 

8. Confidered fimply as creatures, I faw none 
of them were capable of prayer, as including 
praiie ; for fuch prayer being a familiar dii- 
courfmg with God, and fuch familiarity imply- 
ing fome equality, it was evident the diftance 
was too great between the Creator and the crea- 
ture. 

Neverthelefs, becaufe poverty, indigence, and 
neceffity, are infeparable from the creature ; as 
goodnefs, riches, and abundance, are infepara- 
ble f"om the Creator ; every reafonable crea- 
ture may ufe that fort of prayer which confifts 



The Seraphical Shepherd. 41 

in afking and imploring relief from the Crea-. 
tor. 

9. Confidering them, fecondly, as fmners, no 
creature is capable of the fecond fort of prayer ; 
which is properly a familiar difcourfmg with 
God upon his perfections, with acknowledgment 
and adoration, and other graces. As for the 
devils, their fpirits are too impure, and buried ■- 
in darknefs, to receive one good thought from 
heaven ; which God never pours into fuch fil- 
thy veffels. And as for finful men, who are in 
their natural eftate, and wallowing in the mire 
of (in, they partake of the darknefs of devils ; 
and as they are dead, and feparated from God, 
they have no right to familiarity and converfa- 
tion with him : and if, in their obftinacy, they 
attempted to approach the throne of the di- 
vine Majefty, the good angels would keep them * 
back as they do the devils ; and they would 
foon return to the darknefs of the creature, to 
which their hearts are diforderly glued : and 
inftead of divine things which they thought 
rafnly to draw from heaven, the diforderly ob- 
jects of the earth would furround their under- 
standings with their dark images, with which they 
would be obliged to take up their fatisfaction. 

But fmners may neverthelefs be admitted to 
this blefTed communication, if they come as 
penitent publicans, fupplicating for the grace 
from which they fee they are. fallen by their 
crimes ; condemning themfelves for the fame, 
and renouncing themfelves at the feet of the 
Creator and Redeemer Jefus Chrift. 

D 2 



i'2 The Seraphical Shepherd* 

10. Confidering the third clafs, viz. good 
chriftians, and members united to the Son of 
God, we enter into the fame rights, that he has 
to prefent himfelf to his Father ; to converfe 
familiarly with him ; to fpeak to him, and to 
receive his anfwers 

11. When then I was affured that rejecting 
L , by reafon of its hindering me by its dark- 
nefs, and becaufe of the hatred and difdain' that 
God has to it, I might with a humble confidence 
in the blood of his natural Son, by means of 
whom I am an adopted fon, prefent myfelf to 
the Father, and improve my unlearned fpirit at 
the imperial court ; and that I might be admit- 
ted to converfe with him ; I then fet about 
confidering the fubjecls proper to employ my- 
felf with God ; fearing that if I prefented my- 
felf before his eyes, without being well agreed 
with him, that I mould either remain dumb 
with fhame before fo great a power, or be o- 
bliged to entertain him with fuch ruftic, fimple 
tiifeourfes, as were unbecoming his dignity. I 
went then to feek my leffon in my fpiritual di- 
rectory, where, upon the opening of a leaf in the 
Revelations, I found what I wanted, " a book 
written within and without. " 

12. This little book, without, reprefented to 
me the Creator ; and within, the Redeemer. 
When I faw this, I wanted no other book ; I im- 
mediately took my fhepherd's crook, and fol- 
lowing my flocks in the paftures, I faid to my- 
felf, I need no other light to read the outfide of 
this book, but the fun ; which, dh>overing ta 



The Seraphlcal Shepherd. 43 

me this great world, makes me fee the wonder- 
ful foot Heps of the perfections of God ; and as 
to theinfide of the book, I need no other light 
than the light of faith ; which, discovering Jefus 
Chrift to my foul, makes me fee the remarkable 
fruits of his glorious excellences 3 fuch as good- 
nefs, Ijpve and mercy, with all the virtues which 
he divinely pra&ifed. 

13. And being thus far fo well mftru&ed, 
there remained nothing more than to know, to 
which of the three divine Perfons, I ought to 
prefent myfelf ; and in what manner I ought to 
begin. I immediately went to fearch in the 
book of my fovereign Director, and obferving 
what he did, and what he taught others to do, 
I found, that it was to the eternal Father I muft 
addrefs myfelf, as to the fountain of all beino-, 
and Father of all light. 

Behold how Chrift fpake and addreffed him- 
felf to his Father : " Father, glorify thy Son ; 
Father, I thank thee ; Father, if it be poffible, 
let this cup pafs from me ; Father, forgive 
them ; my Father, into thy hands I commend 
my fpirit ;" and thus he gave up the ghoft 
praying to his Father. 

See alfo how he inftrufted his difciples who 
afked him how to pray. Say, faid he, " Our 
Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy 
name." And in another place he faid, that 
" whatfoever ye alk of the Father in my name, 
he will give it you." There remains then only 
to (how you in what manner you ought to pre* 
fent yourfelf before God. 



44 The Seraphical Shepherd* 

Manner of praying, 

14. In prefenting yourfelf before the eternal 
Father, to difcourfe with him of his proper per-? 
fedHons, it is neceffary to do it with very great 
purity of intention ; which ought only to be with 
a view to know the amiable and adorable per- 
fections which are in him ; with a defign to 
praife, glorify, honour, and adore God in them ; 
and above all, offering yourfelf to God, to be 
clothed with fuch a degree of the fpirit of pray- 
er, as he fees fit ; whether it be accompanied 
with diffraction, drynefs, trouble, or reft. 

15. Your intentions being thus purified, you 
muft then begin to difcourfe with the Father 
eternal. And in order to do this, by no means 
prefent yourfelf before his eyes in your own per- 
son ; nor fpeak to him in your own name. 

You muil be introduced to God under thefe 
three titles : 

I. In the perfon of his Son. 

"II; In the fpirit of his Son. 

III. In the truth of his Son. 

Firft, in the perfon of his Son. Becaufe we 
have no right to approach the Father, but by 
him, and being clothed with him. Behold a 
beautiful figure, we have of this in the fcripture : 
Jacob, defiring the blefling from his Father 
Ifaac, durft not approach him without being 
covered with his brother Efau's garments (who 
had yielded up his right to him) and through 
favour of the fmelj. and perfume thereof, he ob- 
tained the bieffing from his Father. Is nQt thi* 



TIjs Seraphical Shepherd. 45 

what St. Paul means, when he faid, " Put ye on 
the Lord Jefus ChriPc i" 

16i We muft then prefent ourfelves to the 
Father in the name and perfon of the. Son. And 
if he aiks who we are, we muft anfwer, without 
fear of lying, (after the example of Jacob, who 
faid to his father, I am thy fon Efau,) we be- 
long to thy Son ; 'tis he that lives and fpeaks 
in us, with which God is well pleafed ; for the 
offering up of his incarnate Son, for the love 
and fal vation of men, is an offering fo agree- 
able and acceptable in his eyes, that it cannot be 
refufed ; and there is nothing that the voice of 
Chrift's blood afks of his Father that can be de- 
nied. 

Thus coming to appear before God, to fpeak 
to and difcourfe with him, Ave muft call to 
mind his Son Jefus Chrift ; and being fo near us, 
we muft give him our polluted being, fins, and 
vilenefs ; and flickering ourfelves in his perfon, 
and being united there, as members of the body 
to their head, we are hereby qualified to the 
fame right as he has to hold communion with 
the Father ; and thus in his name, and covered 
with his garments, the Father cannot reject us. 

17. When we come to the Father in this 
manner, he does not look upon, nor hear us, 
vile and unworthy as we are in ourfelves ; but 
looks upon, and hears his own Son who is in us ; 
to whom we have fubmitted and reiigned up 
ourfelves, that we might be transformed into 
him, and be put in full pofleffion of his perfon, 
and conformed to his will, 



46 The Seraphical Shepherd, 

We mult then appropriate, and clothe our* 
felves with the perfon and merits of Jefus Chrift 
(not our own, nor our own fufficiency) tohavQ 
audience with our heavenly Father ; for the Son 
has merited it for us. 

II. The Spirit of his Son. 

13. In the fecoud place, w r e mud come be- 
fore the Father, in the Spirit of his Son. This 
the Son himfelf, as a good director, taught the 
Samaritan woman, faying that the true wor- 
shippers mud worfhip God in fpirit and in truth. 
Our own fpirit is too flefhly and difproportioned 
to God, to carry on an intercourfe with him as 
we oujjht to do by our natural thoughts and 
<difcourfes : fmce, as St. Paul fays, u we are not 
fufficient of ourfelves to think a good thought ;'* 
but that " all our fufficiency is of God." To 
have intercourfe with God, we need a divine 
Spirit, to form in our understandings thoughts 
worthy of him ; and in order to have a divine 
Spirit, we muft renounce the bafenefs of our 
own ftudied difcourfes, and afk of Jefus Chrifl 
that holy* divine, and eloquent Spirit, with 
which, whilft here on earth, he himfelf addrefT- 
ed his Father. It is not nepefTary to know 
whether we have this Spirit before we begin ; 
it fuffices that we give up ourfelves to it in faith 
and fimplicity, that it may poffefs and conduct 
us, according to its own operations.* 

* Many have been the difputes, whether we ought to 
know we have the Spirit of God or not, before we begin 
%e pray ; but there is no occafion to difpute about it ; be*? 



The Seraphical Shepherd* it 

III. The 1 truth of the Son. 

19. We muft worfhip God in truth, and be 
clothed with the Spirit of faith and truth : and 
we are then clothed with it when we contem* 
plate a myftery or fome divine perfection, not 
according to our natural under (landing of it, 
which is too low and bafe, and no ways pro- 
portioned to it, but as the myftery or perfection 
is in itfelf, and according to its own dignity 
and merit as it appears in the light of faith ; in 
which light we are clothed with Truth ; and 
fo contemplate thefe things, not by natural or 
human ideas, but as they appear in themfeives 
in Spirit and in truth. 

20. And now behold how the foul is raifed to 
worfhip and adore God. The underftanding 
being clothed with the Spirit, and with the true* 
light of the Son of God, which is faith, it is 

caufe the different difpenfations fouls are under, make a 
material difference in this and many fuch cafes ; fo that 
it is as foolifh to lay down one rule for all, as it is to 
make clothes for people of various fizes, bf one meafure* 
What the Shepherd fays is right, and is good advice : 
but that he may not be mifunderflood, take notice, he is 
fpeaking of beginners in chriftianity. For it is matter of 
fact, chriftians ought to prefs forward to that ftate, where 
they may come to know when they are called of God to 
pray, arid when to be ftill ; and a great privilege it is. 
But, as I faid before, the different difpenfenfations fouls 
are under, make a difference in the rule ; fo that he that 
goes to pray, before he knows he has the Spirit, and he 
that does not do it, till he knows he has the Spirit, 
may both be right, and in their places, and ought net to 
judge one another ; but rather learn " to keep the uaity 
•f the Spirit m, the bond of peace/* 



iS The ScrapJncal Shepherd. 



s 



fweetiy drawn to meditate ; and conuderiri 
fome of the 'virtues, properties, and excellences 
of God, ill the perfections of his nature, inch as 
goodnefs, beauty, power, vvi.fdom, love, purity, 
glory, Sec. it finds fome one of thefe fallen upon 
it more ftrongly than the reft : then the foul 
flops to contemplate it with admiration. And 
this one may call contemplation, where the un- 
derftanding is taken up with admiring the per- 
fections of God, without noife or disturbance. 
Lailly, the affectionate power of the foul, which 
is the will, makes ufe of this enlightened under- 
Handing ; and, ailiiled by it, as a ray of light, 
fhe gains a happy paifage and entrance into thefe 
divine perfections, which fhe understands and 
contemplate" ; where, being introduced, the will 
proceeds to perform its part, rendering homage 
to thefe perfections which fhe adores in her Cre- 
ator, where, being, as I faid before, entered in 
by affection, (he fees herfelf clothed and partaker 
of thefe divine qualities, 2 Cor. iii. 18. And' 
moreover, perceiving them flowing from God, 
like the fun beams, upon the whole creation, 
fhe follows the fame ; fo that fhe adores thefe- 
glorious perfections as they appear in God him - 
felf, and aifo as they appear out of him in alt. 
his works : and by this means finds the glory 
of God covering the earth alfo ; the creatures 
themfelyes affifting fuch a foul. 

21. Alfo in like manner meditating upon the 
virtues and natural and fupernatural perfections 
of the humanity of Jefus Chrift ; paffing into 
and being clothed with them we adore them ia 



The Seraphic al Shepherd* 49 

him, and out of him, as in his children in whofe 
hearts he is formed. In this lad action and hap- 
py paflage of the will coniifts true prayer. And 
this is truly to worfhip God in the perfon, in the 
Spirit, and in the truth of his Son. 

22. And if, for your fpiritual fatisfaction, 
you defire to know practically the Spirit with 
which the Son adored and prayed, and addreffed 
his Father, behold him in his agony praying 
in the garden ; and I am perfuaded you will 
fee in your directory how you ought to be cov- 
ered with this Spirit in your prayers. When 
he was in forrow, through the fight of his ene- 
mies, his torments and his death, his Spirit 
entered into the virtue of patience, with which 
he covered himfelf, and the more fo as the 
trouble of his fenfes feemed to increafe. If fuch 
things happen to you, enter into and feek to be 
covered with the fame Spirit. When Chrift 
was refufed his requeit, he clothed himfelf with 
the fpirit of humility and refignation, in which 
he remained before his Father. When he was 
comforted by an angel, hs entered into and 
clothed himfelf with the Spirit of juftice and 
righteoufnefs ; making ufe of this confolation 
only for the end for which it was given, that he 
might be ftrengthened courageously to endure 
the crofs. 

23. Above all, take care to remain in that 
fituation conformable to the fpirit with which, 
you may perceive yourfelf clothed, whether it be 
humility, fufferings, joy, fadnefs, love, or what- 
ever elfe it may be, by being conformed to the 

E 



50 The Seraphical Shepherd. 

divine will. Thus Jefus Chrift remained in the 
iituation conformable to the fpirit which pofTefT- 
ed him, whether it was joy or forrow, &c. and 
as his pure foul knew that it was God's Spirit 
that led him and directed him into thefe different 
eftates, he refignedly fubmitted himfelf unto 
the fame, adoring this Spirit of God in him,how- 
ever rigorous a director it feemed to be, by re- 
nouncing his own will and conforming himfelf 
to the will of his Father. 

24. Imitate then Jefus Chrift, fmce he is the 
fovereign director and leader of fouls, and you 
fhall be afiured to have the true fpirit of prayer, 
and you will not be unhappy with any tling by 
wfyich you may be proved and tried ; on the 
contrary, all things fhall work together for 
your good ; and you will alfo come to enjoy 
thofe lights and underftandings which you have 
admired in me, without having confidered that 
it is not our own induftry, but the alone perfon 
and Spirit of the Son of God, which merits for 
us this grace, arid familiar accefs to the Father 
©flights^ 



The Seraph'ual Shepherd* 51 



CONVERSATION V. 



} . Of the lafl judgment. 3. How God will be glo- 
rified therein ; and how deferable it is to th ofe who 
purely love God. 8. The wondtrs of that day*, 
1 7. The lajl and JIM greater wonders af the fame 
day. 



H 



APPENING about this time to meet 
with a prophecy of the world's being near 
at an end, I fhewed it to our Shepherd ; who, 
having heard it read, fhewed in his counten- 
ance and actions an extraordinary joy, faying 
foftly to himfelf, whilft I was reading it, O that 
it was this day ! O that it was this day ! which 
made me afk him when I had done, why he did 
not weep and tremble, inftead of rejoicing, fee- 
ing that the greateft chriftians have dreaded the 
lad day, b£caufe of the general judgment that 
then will be ; where there will be no more place 
for mercy ? To which he made me an anfwer 
fo excellent and elevated, and alfo fo fenfible 
and affectionate,- that it will remain in my heart 
as long as I live, as matter of aftonifhment. 

2. He told me, that thofe chriftians who 
dreaded that day, being excited only with a felf 
interefted love, concerning thofe that were loft, 
among which number they did not know but 
they might be included, which made them only 
reflect upon the fever ity of the Judge, and the 
mifery of the wicked. But as for me, faid the 



52 The Serabhlcal SJ^^herd. 



Shepherd, renouncing the mtereft that my felf 
love might catife me to take, either in their lofs 
or mine , I efpoufe limply the interefts of the 
Judge, and the great advantages that he and his 
elect will obtain in that day ; I think I fliould 
have no love for this juft and lovely Judge, if I 
did not defire, yea, paffionately defire that day, 
in which all his defires will be accomplifhed 
upon angels and men. 

3. I tell you, moreover, that this fecond com- 
ing of the Redeemer ought to be in fome fort 
more earneftly defired than his firft was by the 
faints of old, for the great advantages that this 
fecond coming has beyond the firft. In the firft 
coming, it appeared that the Son of God had 
laid afide his dignity and glory, as St. Paul fays, 
u He emptied himfelf, taking upon him the form 
of a fervant." It appeared alio, that he had re- 
nounced his great riches, entering into our pov- 
erty, and covering himfelf with the fhame and 
confufion of finners ; and what is yet more, he 
really denied himfelf, the fpace of thirty three 
years that he lived in this world, of that glory 
which his fuperiour nature, both foul and body 
might juftly claim, by virtue of the union and 
indiflbluble marriage of his humanity with the 
glorious Word. On the contrary, in the fecond 
coming, he will appear in full poffeffion of the 
double glory both of foul and body, no more 
covered "with the filth of finners, or the infirmi- 
ties of this mortal life ; but perfectly living and 
reigning in his proper majefly, glory, power, and 
authority of God his Father, 



The Seraphic at Shepherd. 53 

4*. In his fir ft coming, he came only for men, 
to be judged by them, and to fubmit to all the 
rigour of their unjuft judgments to his forrow : 
but in his fecond coming, he will come for him- 
felf, and prefent himfelf to all men and angels, 
to be their judge, and his judgment of them will 
be for the fetting oft and illuflration of his own 
honour and glory. 

5. And not only fo, but I have this further 
to fay, that as we are by command obligated to 
love Jefus Chrift more than ourfelves, under the 
double title of Creator and Redeemer, and to 
prefer his interefts to ours, we ought to love his 
fecond coming with a very particular love, fmce 
all the interefts and glory of Jefus Chrift our Re- 
deemer is contained in it. 

6. If you knew, faid the Shepherd, the glori- 
ous actions that will be wrought in that day, vou 
would defire it as much as I. And would to 
God that all men in the world, and efpecially 
chriftians and minifters, had but the leaft of that 
knowledge of it, which his great goodnefs has 
fceftowed on me ! then they would have no med- 
itation in their hearts more fweet than that day. 
But I believe that the divine wifdom hides thefe 
things from the wife of the world, who are blind 
in their own natural underftandings, to reveal 
them to the moft fimple and ordinary perfons, 
fuch as myfelf. 

7- Thefe abrupt words gave me theftrongeftde* 
fires to know the Shepherd's particular thought! 
concerning the day of judgment ; and having 
prevailed with him to communicate to me th# 

E2 



54} The Seraphkal Shepherd. 

difcoverles that God had given him, of which I 
hoped to make a good ufe, he made me fit down 
by him upon the ground, and taking hold of me 
with one hand, and pulling off his hat with the 
other, that he might fpeak of this myftery with 
more refpect, he begun in the following manner 
to declare the order of that day's glorious tranf* 
actions, fo much dreaded by the world, and fo 
much defired by himfelf. 

8. Firft, our Lord Jefus Chrift will prefent 
himfelf to men, angels, and devils, to be acknowl-* 
edged as their univerfal Judge, as well thofe who 
fhall be on earth at his coming, as thole whofe 
bodies have been buried from the firft creation 
of the world. The devils will not acknowledge 
him with good will, but by force. The angels. 
will do it with joy. The wicked will be found 
in the rebellion of devils; and the elect in the 
fubmiflion of angels. Join yourfelf then even 
now to thefe ; and imagine to yourfelf that Je- 
fus Chrift prefents himfelf to you, to be acknowU 
edged the Judge of the univerfe ; join yourfelf to 
him, and, entering into his zeal and inclinations, 
andefpoufing his interefts, proteft to give the 
blow where he will give it, to deftroy what he 
will deftroy, and to incline to what he inclines to. 

9. Secondly, he will deftroy the old world of 
Adam ; at leaft, every thing that hath ferved to 
his corruption fhall be then changed. New heav- 
ens, new earth, new fun, new moon. " Behold, 
faith he, I make all things new." Let your zeal 
then be joined to his ; give yourfelf to him, and 
all that is impure in this world of Adam ; and 



The S graphical Shepherd. 55 ' 

immediately renounce thofe things which man- 
kind and yourfelf have made ufe of to offend 
him ; fmce God will utterly deftroy them. 

10. Thirdly, after having deftroyed and per- 
fected the old world, he will deftroy in us all the 
diforders of Adam, which is the old man. Give 
yourfelf then, even this hour, into his almighty 
hands ; and, being of one mind with him, full of 
a juft anger againft all thofe diforders that he 
and you know to be in yourfelf, and that he will 
deftroy in the laft day ; begin now in his ftrength 
to join in this deftruction, before it is too late ; 
and this is to deftroy the kingdom of Adam. 

He will deftroy the dominion alfo, that, till 
then, the devil hath had upon the elect, by the 
fin of Adam, and the corruption that was born 
with them. 

He will alfo deftroy the power of the flefh, 
infomuch that the Spirit will from thenceforth 
begin its reign and dominion over the fleih* 
Seek then from this very hour, that this domin- 
ion may begin over the fleih ; and if it feems diffi- 
cult, apply yourfelf to Jefus Chrift by faith, that 
fo, being fortified by his Spirit, you may at the 
leaft difallow of the dominion of fenfe, and not 
give up your liberty to it. 

He will deftroy the dominion of death, which 
began almoft as early as the world, and life will 
then begin, never to end, as well over the repro- 
bate as the elect: ; the bodies fhall then be unit- 
ed to the fouls, to which they were formerly 
companions ; though with this difference, that 
thofe whom God hath taken their lives away m 



56 The Seraphkal Shepherd. 

his juftice, will have them reftored in the fame 
juftice ; but thofe whofe lives were taken away, 
and their fins with their lives, in mercy, in the 
fame mercy, God will give them his grace and 
glory, with that eternal, incorruptible life which 
is himfelf. 

11. But forget not to remark, and to adore 
in Jefus Chrift that Fountain from whence he 
draws his life, out of the abundance and fulnefs 
of which he recovers the whole univerfe from 
death, and eftablifhes in it a life that is perma- 
nent and eternal. The fountain of this world's 
light is the bofom of the fun ; and the fountain 
or fource of the life of Jefus Chrift is the bofom 
of the Father, from whence he receives the eter- 
nal effence as his life ; fo that, by ftreaming 
forth a ray of his eternal life into the dead, he 
caufes them to live in him and by him ; and 
Chrift, being infeparable from the Father, by this 
means will caufe them to live by him to the 
Father : for this reafon he calls himfelf " the 
refurrection and the life." And St. Paul alfo 
teaches the fame thing, faying, " For we are 
dead, but our life is hid with Chrift in God ; and 
when Chrift who is our life fhall appear, we 
fhall appear with him in glory ;" that is, this 
Son, this eternal life will, by infufing and com- 
municating his life in us, make us like himfelf ; 
and we fhall, by this means, pofTefs a life which 
proceeds from the fame fource or fountain as his 
cwn. 

12. Who then in the lead degree can love 
Jefus Chrift, and not wifh for this day, in which 



The Seraphic al Shepherd* 57 

he will have the fatisfadrion to fee Chrift's life 
reign over death ? Let us then adore, every day, 
that life in Jefus Chrift, by which he will quick- 
en the whole univerfe. For my part, faid the 
Shepherd, after having adored this divine life, 
which will reign over death, I renounce mine 
entirely as a life that is not worth naming ; and 
I pray my Redeemer and Judge to take away 
from me all diforderly affection that I may find 
to this living death, or dying life, giving myfelf 
up to him to enter now in fome meafure into 
that new life, never to be interrupted by death, 
in which I begin the firft act of .my eternal 
adoration that I defire may never be interrupt- 
ed. 

13. Chrift, having reftored life to all the 
dead, he will give fentence of condemnation 
and falvation refpectively to angels, men, and 
devils. He will confirm the angels in their 
happinefs, and devils in their mifery ; he will alfo 
give to the wicked an everlafting dying life, and 
to the predeftinate an eternally living flourifhing 
life. 

14, Confidering that this is the cafe, I adore 
with all my heart the fentence that will proceed 
from the mouth of my Judge and Redeemer 
concerning myfelf; and loving him more than 
myfelf, if he gets glory by my condemnation, I 
will from this moment adore his judgment, and 
renounce my own proper glory and content- 
ment, that it may be fwallowed up in his good 
pleafure ; at the fame time, neverthelefs, deteft* 
ing all my fins and offences. 



58 The Seraphic at Shepherd* 

15. Moreover I add, that in the laft day, 
Jefus Chrift will accomplifh all the defires of 
men, angels, and devils, whether elect or repro- 
bate. The defire of angels is to fee their places 
filled, their fociety increafed, and the empire of 
the Redeemer made perfect ; which will all be 
done in that day. 

The devils, who have always defired a full 
dominion over man, will have it then eftabliihed 
over all the reprobate. O dreadful dominion, 
like unto that which Chrift once gave them over 
a lunatic, whom they threw fometimes in the 
fire, and fometimes in the water. 

The wicked, whilft in this life, always defired 
the flefh, the world, and filthy lucre ; and as 
they in £this world defired and pofleffed thefe 
things in a diforderly, finful manner, contrary 
to the will of God ; fo in the next world they 
will be furrounded in a diforderly, miferable 
manner with the fhadows and pictures of thofe 
things which they lulled after, which will be a 
part of their mifery ; and in this manner will 
they have their defires accomplifhed. 

The elect children of God will, in that day al- 
fo, have all their defires accomplifhed, which 
they could not have in this world. They will 
then find in Jefus Chrift the moft perfect joys and 
delights that they are capable of, both in foul 
and body, fuitable to their glorified ftate ; and 
this in the higheft degree that can be. So God 
will fulfil all their defires. 

16. Judge, reader, if this difcourfe of the 
Shepherd's, relating to the laft judgment was not 



The Seraphic al Shepherd. 59 

enough to fatisfy a more advanced perfon than 
myfelf in religion, that he had received his learn- 
ing from the Spirit of God. 

17- As foon as he had ended the above dif- 
courfe he made a long paufe, remaining filent 
and wrapt up in thought. As I imagined he 
had done, I was interrupting him, in order to 
afk fome other queftion,that came into my mind ; 
but he took me fuddenly by the hand, and faid, 
Softly, foftly, father, this is not all. All that I 
have yet faid may be conceived of by a human 
fpirit ; but what remains to fay, cannot be known 
by any but the Redeemer, the Son of the eternal 
Father, and thofe to whom the Father hath re- 
vealed it. Receive it then from him by me, 
poor and defpicable Shepherd as I am, and lay it 
up in fecrecy in your heart, and reveal it not, 
unlefs the Son of God moves and calls you to 
do it. 

Behold then what the Shepherd further faid 
to me in purfuing his difcourfe, which the read- 
er will judge to be a fecret drawn from the fame 
bofom, from whence the beloved John obtained 
thofe fecrets which we have recorded in the myf- 
tical book of the Revelation. 

18. In the laft day the Son of God, in the 
character of Son, Redeemer, and Judge, will ac- 
complifh all the defires of his Father. 

The firft and ftrongeft defire that the Father 
ever had was this ; to eftablifh his own being, ef- 
fence and glorious nature in his Son, which he 
did, in begetting him by an internal action, in 
which he infufed or communicated his owi 



60 The Seraphical Sk'pherd. 

bright, luminous nature into him, as the fun does 
in begetting the light. This was the firft divine 
communication, which was accompanied with a 
fecond, viz. the production which the Father 
made with the Son of the perfon of the Holy 
Ghoft. 

19. The fecond defire of God the Father was 
to communicate himfelf outwardly in the crea- 
tures by means of his Son, who was as a bridge 
for him to pafs, and eftablifh his natural image 
in them, like the fun which by means of the light 
as a bridge, doth communicate itfelf here below 
upon the earth, and this St. John has divinely 
taken notice of, where he fays, " The Father 
made all things by the Word, and without him 
was not any thing made that was made." 

20. As then by the creation, which was the 
firft outward action, God only communicated 
and eftablifhed his natural image in the crea- 
tures, by his word the Son, and not his glorious 
divine image as it is in the Son ; there remains 
his third and laft defire, which is to eftablifh his 
glorious image, or divine nature in them, fo far 
as they are capable of receiving it ; and this will 
be his final outward action, which confequently 
will alfo be by Jefus Cbrift, by whom God eftab- 
lifhed his natural image in all things. 

21. And I fay, that this laft defire of the Fa- 
ther ought not to be accomplifhed by any one 
but his Son who is God and man ; firft, becaufe 
he is his Son, and again, becaufe he has merited 
it by his humiliation. I will explain it to you. 
Jefus Chriftj confidered as God, and the Son of 



The Seraphic al Shepherd. 61 

God, being as powerful as his Father* and alio 
matter of himfelf, he might, according to his 
own good pleafure, exerciie his independent, un- 
created nature, which he received from his Fa- 
ther in eternity ; and not only £o, but had an 
equal right to ufe or exercife as he pleafed, his 
created nature or being which he received from 
the virgin Mary by a temporal birth.* 

But this he never would do, in any other 
manner than what was according to the mind 
of the Father, being always fubmitted to his 
will, even to the emptying himfelf of all his 
glory. This is the reafon why in the lad day 
(when the defire of the Father will be accom- 
pliPned over all the woiks of his hands) that 
Chrift will be appointed Judge as well of his 
own proper intereils, as alfo thofe of all crea- 
tures, in whom the Father communicating his 
divine and glorious nature, by his Son, and with 
his Son, will fo powerfully feai and imprefs up- 
on them this his divine nature, that he will alfo 
in and through his Son eftablifh his dominion 
and reign over them to all eternity. 

22. And take notice, that Jefus Chrift will in 
fuch a manner eftablifh the glory of his Father 

* This deep remark of the Shepherd's is abundantly 
confirmed by the following texts from Chrift's own 
mouth, " Therefore doth my Father love me, becaufe 
I lay down my life that I might take it again. No man 
taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myfelf : I have 
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again 
This command have I received of my Father." John x 
17, 18, 

F 



62 The Seraphical Shepherd. 

in all creatures, that they will change nothing 
of their own natural or fpecifical conftitution,* 
but will receive from him a glory that will add 
unto them a fupei natural elevated degree of very 
high dignities and divine communications. As 
thus : 

He will eftablifh. his glory in heaven, in the 
fun, the moon, and ftars ; their natural clear- 
nefs will be inconceivably heightened by the 
light and luftre of God, which will be put upon * 
them by Jefus Chriit. 

He will eftablifli his glory in the earth, chang- 
ing its dark quality into a transparent clearnefs 
without deftroying its nature of earth. 

He will eftabliih his p-lory in our bodies in 
. the fame manner ; and, by other gifts and glo- 
rious qualities, will raife and refine the fenfes 
and organs thereof to a very high degree of del- 
icacy or fpir.ituality, beyond what they are here 
on earth. 

He will eftabliih the glory of God in our 
fouls, infufmg and communicating his own glo- 
rious light for the glorious light of the Father 
which is in him, into the fun of our underftand- 
ings ; by which joining or addition of glory, 
^ir .fouls will be highly ennobled and transform- 
ed into his likenefs. 

* This remark"of the Shepherd's, with his following ex- 
planation of his meaning, may perhaps be no defpicable 
comment upon the following text : viz." Neverthelefs we, 
according to his promife, look for new heavens, and a new 
earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs. ,, 2 Pet, iiL 13. 



The Seraphical Shepherd* 63 

He will eftablifh his glory in our wills, which 
may be called the mothers of love ; and without 
changing their nature, will, by applying or unit- 
ing his glorious love, or the glory of his love to 
ours, caufe our love to be raifed to a degree of 
height and perfection, as much above our prefent 
ftate, as the glory and perfection of God is a- 
bove the nature of man. 

In a word, the Son being made Judge of the 
infcerefts of his Father, after having confidered 
the cafe and ftate of each creature, he will judge 
in what degree of glory the glorious kingdom 
of his Father is proper to be eftablifhed and 
confirmed in each particular of them. 

23. Another fecret is, that Jefus Chrift will 
have juftice done to all his myfteries which he 
hath wrought for man when he was on earth ; 
they will be as fweetly, honourably and glori- 
oufly difplayed in the redeemed fouls in heaven, 
as they were dolefully and ignominioufly dif- 
played in humanity on earth ; not having ever 
been perfectly and clearly known of men, who 
always, in this life, are ignorant of many things, 
notwith (landing whatever hath been fpoke, or 
written, or conceived by any one. 

But in that day, juftice will be done to thefe 
myfteries ; for he will perfectly difplay all the 
wonders and fecrets of the fame, in his concep- 
tion and birth ; and the actions of his infancy, 
which are unknown ; alfo the myftery of his be- 
ing nine months in the womb ; his paftion ; his 
forrows ; the thoughts that he had of us in his 



64- The Seraphic at Shepherd* 

agony in the garden, and upon the crofs. Alt 
thefe things, I repeat again, demand juftice ; 
and juftice will be done to thern in that day by 
Jefus Chrift, who will difplay them highly and 
fweetly in the fpirits of his elecl: ; but not to the 
reprobate, to whom they profit not, which is 
caufed by their own fault. 

24-. Who would not wife for and defire that 
day, that love the Lord Jefus Chrift, fince it 
will be fo much to his glory ? It is for this rea- 
fon, faid the Shepherd, I defire it even now ; I 
love and adore it» and all that will be done in 
it, was it even to my own difadvantage, fince it 
will be to the glory of the Father Creator, the 
Son Redeemer, the Holy Spirit the Sanclifier, 
and of all the moil holv Trinitv. I therefore 
charge and adjure the heavens, the earth, the, 
fun, the moon, the rears, and all creatures, to • 
haften to receive in them the glorious image, or 
nature of the Creator, by the hands of the Son 
Redeemer, and to make no refinance againft 
thefe glorious impreffions. I will give all dil- 
igence, faid the -Shepherd, to eftablim fo ftrong-* 
ly in myfelf and all others, the j no ft holy and 
adorable myfteries of my redemption, gracioufiy 
wrought out by my Redeemer'; that, was there 
to rife a iingle doubt of any of them, or the le.tft 
thought to the prejudice of che honour and glory 
that is due to them, I would upon the fpot im- 
mediately condemn it as a capital enemy to the 
glory of my Redeemer, whom I revere and a- 
dore, as the only Judge of the interefts cf his 



Th: Strap hie a! Shepherd. 65 

Father, of his own, of mine, and alfo of all his 
eledt, whether angels or men. Amen. Halle- 
lnjah. 



F 2 



66 The Seraphical Shepherd, 



CONCLUSION. 



H 



ERE ends the French original. The 
author, I fuppofe, not thinking it material to 
mention the particulars of his parting with this 
extraordinary Shepherd ; nor indeed is it of 
any great confequence. It is more for our prof- 
it, that the Shepherd fhould flip away, and 
leave us in the contemplation of what fo much 
fired his heart with adoration and praife, viz* 
the perfections of God. 

And now, reader, give me leave to addrefs a 
few words to thee, by way of conclufion to the 
foregoing converfations. 

The fcriptures abundantly declare the good 
pleafure of God, in choofmg " the foolifh things 
of this world to confound the wife." And his 
defign therein is, " that no flefli ihould glory in 
his prefence." Thou feed in this Shepherd the 
very efTentials of true religion, viz. faith in our 
Lord Jefus Chrift, afpiring in the flame of pure 
love to God. How beautiful is it, when tha 
light of faith and the heat of love take place and 
unite in the heart of man ! Where this is the 
cafe, it is of very little confequence what the 
cafket is that contains this precious jewel ; I 
mean the outward mode or form of worfhip. 
For St. Paul has informed us, that " in Jefus 
Chrift, neither circumcifion availeth any thing, 
nor uncircumcifion, but faith worketh by love. 
According as this precious, living, operative 



The Seraphical Shepherd* 67 

faith increafes, the image of God is increafed in 
the foul of man ; and be afTured, this is the very 
kernel, marrow, and ^lory of the religion of 
Jefus ! For the very end and intent of the 
Father, Word, and Spirit, in creating, redeem- 
ing, regenerating and glorifying man, is, that 
we might "be conformed to the image of his 
Son ;" that fo in him we might forever " ap- 
pear inrhis likenefs ; and be filled with all the 
fullnefs of God. Oh the depth of the riches of 
the grace and love of God ! Where fin hath 
abounded, grace hath much more abounded : 
that as fin hath reigned unto death, even fo 
might grace reign, through righteoufnefs, unto 
eternal life by Jefus Chrift our Lord ;" to whom 
with the Father, and the Holy Ghbft, the per- 
fection of all beauty and goodnefs, be honour, 
and glory, and praife, for ever and ever. Amen, 
Hallelujah ! 



A SMALL 

BUNCH OF VIOLETS. 

BEING A COLLECTION 
OF 

LETTERS, POEMS, 

AND 

MEDITATIONS, 

ON SEVERAL 

EVANGELICAL SUBJECTS; 

CHIEFLY FROM NATURAL FIGURES AND SIMILITUDES 

SPIRITUALIZED. 



BY CORNELIUS CAYLEY, ju». 



PART II. 



All thy Works fhall praife thee, O Lord ; and thy Saints 
{hall blefs thee. Psalm cxlv. 10. 

The anointing whieh ye have received of him, abideth in 
you ; and ye need not that any man teach you : but as 
the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is 
truth, and is no lie ; and even as it hath taught you, ye 
fhall abide in it. 1 John ii. 27. 



BOSTON: 

Printed by Davw Carlisle, 

FOR JOHN WEST, No. 75, CORNHILL. 



1805. 



THE A U T H O R'« 

DEDICATION 

TO HIS ADORABLE REDEEMER 

JESUS CHRIST. 



M 



.YSELF and book, at thy dear feet, 
A kind acceptance begs to meet. 
Protector, Patron, deign to be ; 
For both, O Lord, belong to thee. 
If any good therein, it's thine ; 
And all that's wrong, I own as mine. 

Whatever is right, do thou receive ; 
Whatever is faulty, Lord, forgive. 
Me and my ofFring pleafe to blefs, 
And water both with much increafe. 
And 'fore the world I'll now declare, 
How great to me thy mercies are. 

My Maker, Saviour, and my God, 
Who bought me with thy precious bloocT; 
My folid Rock, my firmed flay, 
When friends, like fnow^ do melt away. 
I never am by thee forgot, 
When others fhun and know me not, 
How oft I find my Lord protects 
His ranfom'd child, when man rejects ! 



72 DEDICATION. 

How oft thy cheering aid appears, 

When plung'd in forrow, grief and tears ! 

And tho' there's few will notice take, 

I find thou dofl not me forfake. 

Plead then, dear Lord, thy fervant's caufe, 

And faveme from my num'rous foes : 

And tho' they fwarm on ev'ry fide, 

O let me in thy prefence hide ; 

And there a happy fhelter find, 

From harm and ftorms of ev'ry kind 

O let thy life in me increafe, 

And fix me in thy joy and peace ; 

Thy perfect beauty may I fee, 

And in thy image let me be 

Conform'd, complete eternally, 

In love's moft facred unity : 

So fhall my foul for ever praife 

The deep profound of thy rich grace. 

C CAYLT.Y. 

April % 1762. 

« It is finifhed," John xte. 30. 






PREFACE. 



I 



DEAR REABER, 

AM induced to communicate to thee the follow- 
ing little flowers, from the hopes that, through grace, 
they may be a means of caufing thee to fee, more and 
more, the great and unfpeakable °goodnefs and beauty 
of the Lord Jefus Chrift, " in whom is hid all the treaf- 
ures of wifdem and knowledge ; and in whom dwell- 
eth all the fullnefs of the godhead bodily ;" to whom 
be eternal glory. Amen. 

The Ample, humble chriftian may be compared to 
the bee, who fucks honey from every flower. But 
conlider, dear reader ! the bee doth not content itfelf 
with flying flightly and haftily over the flowers, which 
would be of no profit ; but fixing itfelf upon them, one 
after another, it extracts a drop of honey from each, 
and fo obtains its balmy load, with which it haftens to 
the hive. Let this teach thee not to content thyfelf 
with a carelefs, hafly running over the following flow- 
ers, but fix upon each with ftillnefs and meditation, 
that fo, with God's blefling, thou mayefl: obtain a drop 
of honey to thy foul. 

I often think the beauteous frame of nature, in* all its 
parts, may be conlidered as fo many little precious 
fprigs of Sharon's beauteous Rofe. The fragrant beauty 

G 



74? PREFACE. 

of each painted flower, the harmonious warblings ot 
each little bird, and the curious flavour of each fruit 
that grows ; all, all, and a thoufand things befides, like 
fo many different heralds, in every corner of the earth, 
are continually crying out, " How beautiful, how har- 
monious, how fragrant, howfweet, how excellent, and 
how glorious is the balmy name of Jefus ! for in him 
were all things created that are in heaven, and that are 
in the earth, vifible and invifible, whether thrones, or 
dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things 
were created by him and for him. For he was before 
all things, and in him did all things fubfift." Col. i. 
16, 17. Judge then, reader, as this is the cafe, whether 
or no every thing is not dehgned to paint out this 
adorable Perfon, " who was delivered" up to the death 
of the crofs " for our offences, and was raifed again for 
our juftification." Rom. iv. 25. 

Here his whole name appears complete ; 
Nor wit can guefs, nor reafon prove , 
Which of the letters befl: is writ, 
The power, the wifdom, or the love. 

Watt*. 

I am in hopes that the reader will find in the follow- 
ing pages fome demonstrations of the truth I have been 
remarking, viz. that the creation, in all its parts, leads 
to Jefus ; and not only points him out in his glories as 
Creator, but alfo in his unfathomable mercies as Re- 
deemer. For " Chrift is rifen above all heavens, that 
he might fill all things." I am fenfible as to myfelf I 
am but juft beginning to fee into the things of the 



PREFACE. 75 

Spirit ; and therefore can only Hfp as a babe. But 
though it is the cafe, I am conftrained, by his loving 
kindnefs, to aim at lifping the praifes of my God and 
Saviour, becaufe he is my beloved, who will never fuf- 
fer any thing " to pluck me out of his hand." He fairly 
won me in that bloody battle that was fought on Cal- 
vary's hill ; and now " he will never leave me ; no, he 
will never, never forfake me." Heb. xiii. 5. 

Tho' all the hofls of death, 
And powVs of hell unknown, 

Put their mod dreadful forms 
Of rage and mifchief on ; 
I fhaU be fefe, for Chrift difplays 
Superiour pow'r, and guardian grace. 

Watts. 

I have only one thing more to advertife the reader 
of, which is, that if a beautiful perfon has his picture 
drawn by a bad painter, it don't in the leaft diminifh 
from the beauty of the original. So if, in my attempts 
tofet forth fomething of the beauties of Jefus, I have 
difcovered very great deficiency and want of fkill 
(which I certainly have) let not the reader be preju- 
diced in the lead: concerning Jefus, the perfection of 
beauty ; " for he is altogether lovely ;" yea, fo lovely, 
that were all faints and angels to join together to de- 
fence his excellences, they would* fall infinitely fhort 
of fuch a mark. On the other hand, if any thing fn 
the following pages fhould prove agreeable and edify- 
ing, I would caution the reader not to think he is in- 
debted to me for it, but to Jefus Chrift, without whofe 
aid and grace I cannot think a good thought. And if 



76 PREFACE. 

any fhould be fo partially favourable to the author, as 
to admire any of his little abilities, let them confider I 
have ' ' nothing but what I have received." x4.gain, let 
them confider how admirable and excellent that glori- 
ous God and Saviour is, " from whom every good and 
perfect gift cometh ;"and who alone is the centre of all 
that is good, holy and beautiful ; and who alone is 
worthy of honour and glory, and everlafting praife. 

Dear reader ! I take my leave of thee for the preTent, 

with alluring thee, that I am particularly feniible of 

two things. Fir ft, that I am full of many imperfections; 

and fecondly, that Jefus Chrift, my God and Saviour is 

full of all perfections whatfeever. Admire him then, 

and learn to love him ; and pray for me, who (for my 

Redeemer's fake) 

Am thy Friend and Servant, 

CORNELIUS CAYLEY. 
April 11, 1762. 
" Ke is riffn." Matt, xxriii. 6-. 



tMMVJmUL^i^Xi 



A SMALL 



BUNCH OF VIOLETS. &c. 



T 



HE following four epiftles, are fup- 
pofed to be fo many walks in a pleafant gar- 
den ; umier which fimilitude, the author thirfts 
to ailure the minds of the youth of both fexes 
to confider the fall of man by nature, and his 
reftoration by grace. The fourth letter is in 
particular an effay upon true and falfe pleafures, 
and earneftly recommended to the consideration 
of all that defire to be truly happy. 



EPISTLE I. 



IN confequence of my promife, I now ad- 
drefs a few lines to one, whofe budding mind 
I would be more ambitious of cultivating 
than the moft ingenious florid mould be of 
his favourite flowers ; for, oh, what is any 
thing without cultivation ! the fineft diamond 

G .2 



78 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

before it is poliflied, has no better an appear- 
ance than a common pebble. The pleafing 
beauties of a well regulated garden are entirely- 
owing to the hand of cultivation, without which 
it could have no fuperiority over the common 
field. " ' 

My^frr^j^ U pon this fimilitude of a garden 

wqu ; a j f ounc j m y prefent plan, and, as you 

nave frequently heard me fay, I never have 

fo good a difpofition for talking, as when 

I am in fome fuch defirable place. If you 

pleafe, we will now in our imagination take a 

walk therein' ; and, like the bee, we will ei> 

deavour not only to admire its beauty, and fo 

enjoy a flight amufement, but alfo we will try 

to obtain the ufeful honey of improvement ; 

which, laid up in the hive of our minds, may 

prove a treafure profitable, both to ourfelves 

and others, in thofe focial connexions which, in 

this life, we mud neceffarily be engaged in. 

And, firft, my friend, let us coniider the 
sarth, from whence all this profufion of herbs, 
flowers, and trees, are fo plentifully produced. 
Before the fall of man, it naturally brought 
forth nothing but what was beautiful and ufe- 
ful to mankind ; but you know, when Adam 
finned, God curfed the ground, and faid it 
Ihould henceforth produce thorns and thirties. 
In paradife, before the fall, the ground was 
rich with the bleffing of the Almighty. Gen. i, 
11. " And God faid, Let the earth bring forth 
grafs, the herb yielding feed, and the fruit tree 
yielding fruit after his kind, whofe feed is in 



A Small Bunch of FloL:^ 79 



"v 



itfelf, upon the earth.; and it was fo. And 
the earth brought forth grafs, and the herb 
yielding feed after its kind. And the tree 
yielding fruit whofe *«ed was in itfelf after its 
kind. God faw that it was good." But after 
the fall, God told Adam, that in the fweat of 
his brow, he fhould eat of the fruit of the 
earth ; fiiewing by this, that the natural ex- 
cellency of the earth was paffed away. And 
that now it required care, and toil, and la- 
bour, to make it produce thing ufeful to man- 
kind. 

Now, in confequence of this, when a pexfbn 
has pitched upon a fpot of ground with a view 
to make a pleafant garden, he Srft of all, has it 
weeded and cleared of thorns and thirties, and 
iuch like incumbrances ; then he turns up the 
ground, removes the ftones and rubbifh, and in 
their place fupplies it with manure, in order to 
improve and enrich the foil, well knowing thai 
the fuccefs of all his projects depends upon this 
cultivation of the foil. 

I fee, my friend, you are admiring how 
much finer the grafs is in this beauteous garden 
than in the common field. How delicate and 
foft it is ! more beautiful than the fmeft Tui- 
key carpet. 

Why this is all owing to the foil of this gar*- 
den being enriched in the manner I have been 
defcribing. 

We have now been pleafmg ourfelves witl 
this reflection ; let us now extract the improre 
ment which it naturally yields us. 



80 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

The earth refembles the mind, of man, which, 
before the fall, produced nothing but the good 
fruits of peace and righteoufnefs- ; but when 
man fmned, this earth, Our mind, was corrupt- 
ed, and then naturally produced the thorns and 
thirties of pride, vanity and fin, and every evil 
work. Our nature then became a corrupt foil* 
whofe fruits were nothing but fin and iniquity. 

Now this being the cafe, in order to have 
fuccefs, the foil muft be changed and dreffed ; 
otherwife we fhall labour in vain. Now in con- 
fequence of neglecting to begin with the cult'u 
vation of this bad foil, people in general, by 
their purfuits in life, only make the thorns and 
thirties of their corrupt nature abound more and 
more. For fuppofe a perfcn poireft cf a beauti- 
ful form, and many pleafing accomphfliments ; 
fuppofe he has fkill in all polite acquirement^ 
what is the confequence of it ? why, the bad 
foil of his corrupt nature t^irns it all into poifen, 
and makes him much more than ever fruitful in 
pride, vanity, orientation and every evil woik. 
So that in reality the more he Urines in thefe 
things, he becomes more defpicable and depiav- 
ed in his heart. For now, being pufTed up with 
felf applaufe, he requires ail people to pay hem- 
age to him ; he difplays his talents only that he 
may be honoured and admired ; and 10, being 
taken up with his own dear felf, he regards 
mankind no further than they bring cfTerings^tp 
the altar of his pride. 



A Small Bunch of Violets. ^ 81 

Oh, my friend, there is not a more perni- 
cious overfight in the world, than people's proce- 
dure in the education of young minds ; neglect- 
ing the foil of their hearts, they beftow care to 
adorn them with all pleafmg acquirements, by 
which they may be eiteemed and admired, and 
fo hide from them that natural deformity of 
heart, which poifons all they fay or do. In con- 
fequence of this, they are filled with fuch felf 
admiration, that they cannot bear the leaf]; con- 
tradiction or affront, but immediately boil with 
rage, and fpit fire for fire, railing for railing ; 
fo full they are of themfelves 3 that they are very 
quick in remarking the leaf! fault, and bitterly 
condemn and cenfure, without making the leaft 
allowance for human infirmity. And all this 
fruit fprings from their not knowing the cor- 
ruption and abomination of their own hearts, 
and by their being poffeft of fome little outfide 
accomplifhments, become more proud, more 
fcornful, more flanderous, more impatient, more 
fubjecl: to anger, pafiion, and in fhort to all that 
is abominable both to God and man- 
Now, my friend, I befeech you to bear cour- 
ageously the naked truth, and be not afraid to 
look in the glafs which an honeii and faithful 
friend will let before you ; one who feeks your 
happineis and felicity. Permit me therefore to 
affure you that your heart is of the lame cor- 
rupted ibil as the reft of mankind, and confc- 
quentlv needful of a change. 

Was I to endeavour your cultivation, with- 
out beginning here, I mould be like a foolilh 



82 A Small Bunch of Vhlds^ 

gardener that would take much pains in flick- 
ing a thorn or bramble all over with flowers, 
which it could never produce from itfelf : by 
this means he might deceive a fpec~lator, but it 
would not make the bramble a bit lefs a bramble 
than it was before. Believe me, the fuccefs of 
all depends upon your being accuftomed to fee 
your heart in its real colours, a thing you ftand 
in need of much? Therefore if you pleafe we 
will begin to cultivate the foil of your heart, 
before we plant flowers and trees therein ; for I 
would have you poffefs a fair infide, as well as a 
fair outfide, for the reafons I have already 
given ; otherwife, the more you would fhine out- 
wardly, the worfe you would be inwardly. 

Remember I am acting the part of a faithful 
riend, and am holding a glafs before your mind 
o drefs it by. you know a glafs that don't 
fhew true is good for nothing : come then, and 
ftand before my friendly glafs, it will do you 
much fervice. You have been hindered much 
from truly knowing yourfelf by converfing 
chiefly with perfons who are not, proper judges 
of merit ; and the praife which yon have often 
received from fuch perfons, fpraug more from 
their folly and ignorance than your defert ; and 
this has had a tendency frequently to puff you 
up with imaginary excellences, which had no 
exiltence, but in the blindnefs and dimfighted- 
nefs of ycur admirers. Oh, be ambitious above 
all things to have your heart cultivated ! for if 
you begin here, you lhall find afterwards the 
fweeteft benefits from it ; and then whatever you 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 83 

may acquire that is beautiful, it will not be hurt- 
ful to you ; but if your heart is not firft of all 
cultivated, all the attainments you might ac- 
quire, would only make you like thofe perfons I 
defcribed in the firft iheet of my paper ; and I 
affure you to difcerning minds, who feek the 
beauties of the mind, fuch a bramble (tuck with 
flowers is eafily discovered ; it is much better 
to be praife worthy, and not be praifed, than 
to be praifed, and not to deferve it. Many 
people will ptaife you becauie they are igno- 
rant and foolifh, therefore fuch praife is ot lit- 
tle value. 

I think for this time we have walked long- 
en ough. I would not tire you even in the 
moil beautiful garden. 

You fee, my friend, I have drawn reflections 
from a gardener's cultivating the earth, which 
may yield profit. I would leave at prefent 
what I have wrote, and recommend it to your 
meditation. My plan with you is to improve, 
as well as to pleafe ; and pleafure and profit are 
two loving fitters, who mould never be feparat- 
ed by any means. Very foon we will walk 
again into our pleafant garden, and make fome 
freili remarks. In the mean time, let my 
friend contemplate upon the fimilitude of the 
earth's bringing forth thorns and thiftles, and 
the human mind, through the fall, doing the 
fame. 

I earneftly pray the great Hufbandman, Jefus 
Chrift, to blefs thefe few hints to you, and what 
I alfo mail further give : for, be allured, the 



84? A Small Bunch of Violets, 

foundation of all true valuable acquirements be- 
gins with true chriftianity ; but I ffiall defer 
faying any mere now, than that 

I am your's, &c. 



EPISTLE II. 



WHAT a reftorer is fleep ! It quite heals and 
cures the fatigues of the day, and puts new 
ftrength and fpirits into the human frame. 

I waked this morning quite refrefhed, not at 
all weary of our yefterday's walk ; and as I 
imagine fleep has had the fame kindly influence 
on you, I would invite my friend to take an- 
other walk in our pleafant garden, and to con- 
tinue our obfervations on the fame. 

If you remember, in our laft walk, we were 
obferving what great advantages the garden 
had, from having its foil cultivated and cleared 
of weeds and rubbifh. Behold how every tree 
and flower, and every fweet fmelling herb, pro- 
claim the fuccefs of this judicious beginning ! 
A great encouragement is this, to induce us to 
beftow a few more reflections on this the firft of 
all the gardener's works; 

I took the freedom, yefterday, to mew you 
the evil foil of your own heart ; to day we will 
begin to cultivate this foil, which, through the 
fall of man, naturally produces thorns and 
thirties. Now let me beg for a few moments 
your ferious attention ; and be not ftartled at 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 85 

the gravity of my fubject, for I aflure .you it is 
full of joy and peace. 

You remember how the ground was curfed 
when Adam fell, and brought forth thorns and. 
thiftles. . But oh ! Jefus, in order to take away 
this curfe, had his glorious head encircled with 
a crown of thorns. Now our minds alio being 
corrupted, and bringing forth thorns of fin and 
iniquity, " Jefus bare our fins in his own body 
on the tree, being made a curfe for us:" And 
thus he removed the curfe from the earth, 
" and healed our finful fouls by his {tripes/' 
How kind was this ! how loving ! "He loved 
us and wafhed us from cur fins with his own 
blood." 

As an ambaiTador of Jefus Chrift, I hiring 
you, my friend, this good news ; and have a 
commiffion to tell yonTthat Jefus loves you a 
million times more than any perfon on earth 
can do. 

If there is water in a little river, how much 
more is there in the wide ocean* If there is 
fire in the flame of a twinkling candle, how 
much more in the globe of the fun. And fo if 
there is chrHtian love and good will in a poor 
frail mortal towards you, how much more then 
is. the love of Jefus towards you, who is the 
Lord of glory. Therefore, becaufe he lov^d 
you, he died for you, took away your fins, made 
your peace, and obtained for you an inheritance 
in the kingdom of heaven ; and now -his kind 
providence watches over you, and " he gives 
his angels charge over you y and he will give 

H 



8& A Small Bunch of Violets* 

you all things that is good for you. Jefus has 
redeemed you from fin-, death, and hell. 

Oh, my friend, let this bed of friends be ad* 
mired by you. Jefus compaffionates all your 
infirmities, for he bare them all in his own body, 
and carried them all away ; fo that now, noth- 
ing can ever feparate you from his love ; and 
becaufe you have nothing in yourfelf to recom- 
mend you to him, he puts upon you the robe 
of his own pure right eoufnefs, and thus he clothes 
you with the garment of falvation. Oh, my 
friend, let this be your joy and glory. This is 
a drefs majces you truly beautiful before God 
and his holy angels. 

In my Iaft letter, I was fhewing you your 
nakednefs in yourfelf. Now I am fhewing your 
beauty in another, even in Jefus. Paufe here a 
moment. What think you of this ? Is it not 
glorious ? This garment, which the love of 
Jefus Chrift gave you, will never fade or wear 
out to all eternity. Be ambitious therefore of 
fhewing yourfelf in your Chriftian robes. Be 
aflured, that all praife and admiration that you 
.may receive from any one, w r ho have not eyes 
to fee what I have been defcribing, is good for 
znothing, and will foon vaniih away. Depend 
Xrpon it, that all union and friendfhip, that has 
jiot this foundation, ftands on a very tottering 
i>ottom, and will one time or another come to 
nothing, however lively it may feem for a fea- 
fon. Every day I fee this remark confirmed 
more and more. Oh, my friend, all human 
virtue that fprings not from Jefus, though very 



A Small Bunch of Violets, ^ $7 

fpacious before men, when examined to the bot- 
tom, is found to fpring from fome evil fource or 
fountain, and fo is not pleafing unto God. 
Therefore for perfons to boaft or pride them- 
felves in any thing except in Jems' mercy, and 
rich bounty, they only glory in their (name and 
poverty' ; for of Jefus Chrift, God fees no merit 
or worth. Therefore, my friend, rejoice in 
Jefus ; triumph in his love ; make your boaft in 
his goodnefs ; who " will never leave you nor 
forfake you." This will make you a fruitful 
field ; this will make you a good tree in Jefus, 
being a branch of him the true vine, whofe fruits 
are " love, joy, peace, gentlenefs, meeknefs, 
goodnefs, patience," &c, 

You fee I am for making you truly comely, 
a garden of the Lord, where Jefus may gather 
his own pleafant fruits. This, this, my friend, 
if you are grounded in, and are captivated with, 
will wean you from being taken with trifles, and 
tinfel amufements ; this will teach you to value 
nothing but what is truly valuable. 

Indeed you can't imagine what a glorious, 
pleafing path this is : be encouraged to give 
your attention to the pleafing theme. I am 
leading you out of the lying cheats of a deceit- 
ful world, to the land where dwells " fullnefs of 
joy, and pleafures for evermore,." Oh behold 
the delectable mountains ! and courageoully 
tread the pilgrim's path ! The golden city is at 
hand. Come, be of good cheer, I am going 
the fame way ; and I afliire you it is a pleafant 
way ; let our ears be flopped to the fopperies of 



88 A Small Bunch of Violets, 

vanity fair, and like Chriftianin Pilgrim's Prog- 
refs, let us go on our way, rejoicing in that in- 
heritance which Jefus has bought for us with his 
own blood. 

The consideration of Jefus' love to you, 
will afford you fuch inward peace and tranquil- 
lity of mind, as will teach all things that aie 
ufeful. 

Now, my friend, having been at work with 
the foil of the heart, let us go on. 

Behold how yonder trees, laden with tender 
bloflbrns, exhibit a glorious fight, and fend forth 
a fragrant fmell. In nature we may perceive 
pieafure and profit always go together ; for 
thefe blooming trees not only pleafe us, but 
will fhortly beftow upon us their delicious fruits, 
Methinks they feem to have no other defign 
than to contribute to our entertainment ! But, 
oh ! it was Jefus commiffioned them to that 
friendly office ; and fee how faithful they are 
every year to yield their ftores, without requir- 
ing any recompenfe. A beautiful emblem this 
of God's rich love and bounty, who gives us all 
good things, without money or price. Nor 
may the pretty painted flowers be faid to be 
lefs ufeful than the fruit trees ; for behold how 
bufy thofe bees are yonder, amidft a bed of rofes ! 
they are diftilling thofe precious juices, which by 
and by will afford us rich cakes of balfamic 
honey ; how much obliged we are to thefe little 
artifts ! but much more we are obliged to Jefus, 
who commiffioned them to work for us, and for 
our entertainment and profit. If it had not bee* 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 89 

for the flull of bees, we fhould little have thought 
flowers could have yielded fo rich a repaft. 

People little think what honey the flowers of 
focial converfation will yield ; and, by reafon 
of this ignorance, find no real benefit, from one 
of the greateft ble (tings of life ; but ufe the 
faculty of fpeech in a poor empty chit chat of 
trifles, and drefs, and idle empty fafhions, and 
fo neglect all that is amiable, all that is worthy 
of fuch a precious faculty. 

May you, like thofe trees, thofe flowers, pro- 
claim the Saviour's fame and goodnefs, who 
gave you fpeech : may you learn to give a ufe- 
ful turn to every topic of difcourfe ; and point 
out Jefus, your beft of friends, to all around. 
Let gratitude commence here, my friend, and 
f take your giddy ftrayiug aflbciates, and teach 
them to be captivated with Jefus, " the faireft 
among ten thoufand^' 

You are now in the fpring of life, a flower 
that's newly blown. Obferve thofe flowers yon^ 
der, they ihine and bloom, not for their own 
pfaife or profit, but for others/ Do you the 
fame ; and may all you fay or do, proclaim 
your Saviour's fame, who is worthy to be ad- 
mired by all in heaven and earth. Obferve how 
every blade of grafs we walk upon has its daily 
drop of dew to keep it frelh and green. Oh if 
Jefus fo provides for the grafs, be confident, he 
never will neglect you, or forbear to give you 
every good thing. Thus repofe all your care 
upon him, and you fhall be as cheerful as the 
lark which before us yonder mounts arid fines, 

H2 



HO A Small Bunch of Violets. , 

and with its fluttering wings and notes proclaims 
its heart felt joy. 

Say, is not this fame Jefus a kind benefactor ? 
Is he not worthy of our praife and love \ As 
long as I live, I {hall never fee any beauty in 
any perfons who flightly efteem Jefus. 

Would my friend know what true grandeur 
and nobility is : oh, it confiits in being above 
the childiih trifling toys of a vain world. For in 
truth, mod people are pleafed with little elfe. 

See yonder in a diftant walk, a lord, who, be- 
caufe he has got a filver ftar fewed on his coat, 
thinks himfelf a great man. See how people 
look at him, and admire him. Oh what a foolim 
admiration is this ! The man is not in reality a 
whit better for the ftar, and yet how is he tickled 
with it ! Oh, how foolifh is the world ! they 
praife one another for their folly, and admire 
each other for what is truly del picable and 
mean. Come, my friend, afpire above fuch 
toys ; be truly noble, be truly great, by wearing 
the chriftian robe ; and leave all meaner things 
to the earthy groveling minds of the children 
of the world. 

See ! fee ! that painted butterfly, how it fpaiv- 
gles in the fun's warm beams ; it has foribolv 
its eld groveling difpofition, when a caterpil- 
lar ; and now it lives a nobler life. See how it 
goes from flower to flower, and fips the balmy 
feaft. Formerly it fed on trafhy leaves, but 
now it is a new creature. Oh, be you too like 
that pretty infect ; fcorn the trafhy leaves and 
'bulks of this vain world : foarln the beams of 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 91 

Jems' love, and rejoice and feaft on fpiritual 
dainties, and leave the caterpillars of the world, 
to their groveling earthy difpofitions. Indeed 
among ft caterpillars, ibme are a little prettier 
than others, but they are but caterpillars. 

So my friend, amongft human caterpillars, 
forne are finer dreft than others ; but alas 1 they 
are but groveling worms flill, with all their 
modes and fafnions, drefs and tinfel, trumpery, 
toys, which take up all their thoughts, ar^i 
hearts, and fpeech, and converfation. 

Come then, arife, and mount with chriftian 
wings ; be captivated with this new fcene of 
things ; fhake yourfelf as from a deep ileep, and 
leave the empty fhadows in exchange for ever- 
lading joys, which fhall abound to all eternity ! 
Thus you will learn ,to have a fund of enter- 
tainment within the garden of your own breaft. 
Then all nature will wait upon you, and give 
you continual pleafure ; true folid -pleafure ; 
much more rational than making apifli caper-. 
ings to a fqueakiili fiddle. Then a iweet com- 
pofure mail pollers your mind ; yo#£hal!be free 
from fwarrns of fooliih wants and wifhesj which 
pefter and torment the human heart ; ycu fhall 
learn to pity and companionate the follies of a 
filly world, without joining in the fame. Then 
will you learn to enjoy every ftation which 
Jefus fhall place you in, with a ferene and 
tranquil mind, and with a cheerful looking 
for a glorious refurrection in the world ta 
come* 



92 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

Oh, how would my heart rejoice and be glad, 
if my poor endeavours may make fome -rm- 
preflion upon your mind, and be a means to 
lead you to true r^ft and happinefs. Oh, con- 
fider of thefe things, and ponder them in your 
heart ; and you fliall find a thoufand times more 
than what I can poffibly fay, or write of the 
fame. 

Methinfcs the fun is fetting. 'Tis time to 
give over walking any longer now. Another 
opportunity, if you pleafe, we will walk again. 
Jn the mean time, be affured, that I am 

Yours, Sec, 



EPISTLE III. ! 



THIS feafon of the year is fo agreeable that 
it much invites our fteps abroad, to tafte the 
cheering frefhnefs of the morning air. Oh, how 
ferene, how tranquil, how calm are the pleafures 
which the beauties of creation give ! How pref- 
erable are thefe delights to tbofe which are the 
produce of the pride and fin of man ! 

If you pleafe, my friend, we will make a frefh 
excurfion into the garden where we lately 
walked. Here may we always find thofe pleaf- 
ures, not only the mod innocent, but the moft 
inftruclive. Pleafures, which are always point- 
ing to the love of him, by whofe com million 
they receive their power to pleafe, and from 
whpfe rich bounty they alone do fpring. Oh* 



A Small Bunch cf Violets* 93 

is it not a wondrous bleffing, that we have given 
to us-the curious faculty of fpeech, by which we 
are enabled to reafon, and to convene about 
thefe pleafing themes ? Surely it is. 

Come then, let us cheerfully indulge a few 
reflections in this pleafantfpot of ground. Here 
no reipecr. is paid to human greatnefs. The 
fragrant fweets of all thofe ranks of flowers, the 
cheering warblings of the feathered fongfters, 
the foftnefs and beauty of the verdant carpet, 
on which we walk ; all, all, offer- their various 
entertainments, as readily to the pooreft labour- 
er, as to the greateft lord. 

Behold that bufh of honeyfuckles, fprinkled 
with the morning's dew, which gives fo fweet 
a fragrance to the air ! it would not fmell a 
jot more fweet to the greateft monarch, than it 
does to us. Riches could not bribe it; great- 
nefs could not tempt it :. for, oh, commendable 
pattern 1 it affords its balmy treat, not to gain 
aught to itfelf, but is fatisfied with beflowing its 
libera) ity, without defiring the leait return ; 
while the pleaiure which it bellows, is the only 
gain it feeks. 

Oh, does not this proclaim the freenefs of 
the love of God, who is no refpecler of perfons. 
The poor and the low are as dear to him, as the 
rich and high. The fun fhiiies as bright, and 
its beams are as comfortable to one, as to the 
other. A man who is djgnifjed with- — his grace 
the duke cf, &c. lleeps no founder, fees no clear- 
er, lives no longer than the ploughman ; he is 
asfubjecl. to pain and iicknefs, and to every : evil 



94 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

as the loweft man on earth. A thoufand titles, 
the fineft equipage, the greateft riches, will not 
afTuage the aching of one poor tooth. How 
poor and mean then are all the glittering dii- 
tin&ions of this prefent world ! and yet how foon 
poor man is intoxicated, and puffed up with the 
fame ; and apt to lock with contempt upon his 
fellow creatures. 

Oh let us learn from the pleafures which this 
garden gives, as liberal to one perfon as an- 
other, that thofe things which dazzle the eyes of 
mortals fo much, are mere empty bubbles. 
Indeed if riches could make us fee the fun more 
bright than others, or exempt us more from the 
accidents of life than others, then fomething 
might be faid ; but as they really can't, how 
little do they deferve our notice. 

Don't you fee thefe budding rofes, which juft 
begin to peep, and fhew their little heads in 
fpots of red ? Let a king, or a man whofe cof- 
fers are filled with money ; let them come here, 
and command thefe rofes to expand, and haften 
forth to perfume the air, will they be obeyed ? 
Oh no. Let the moft celebrated beauty ; the ob- 
ject of univerfal admiration ; let her come and 
command the fame : will thefe rofes hafte to 
bloom at her command ? No, no. Methinks I 
hear the rofes tell the king, they are only under 
the command of the King of kings. And to 
the rich man, they tell him they want not his 
riches ; a little fun and dew are fufficient for 
them ; and this they cannot be deprived of. 
^Vnd to the celebrated beauty, they tell her, her 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 95 

blooming ikin is far inferior to the blufh of their 
own filken leaves, to the beauty of which fhe 
may not once be compared. Oh, ye pretty 
flowers, let me learn of you to lay afide all 
odious flattery. 

Well then, my friend, may thefe innocent 
monitors teach us the emptinefs of human gran- 
deur : may they teach to feek for happinefs 
always in the love and favour of Jefus, at whofe 
command they were at flrft created, and at 
whofe command they now obey and difplay 
their blooming fragrance : for Jefus is tfas 
fountain of all excellency, the perfection of all 
good. He will teach us to find fweetnefs in 
every ftation of life, and will pour gladnefs into 
ourfpirits from his own Spirit, for " in his pref- 
eilce is fulnefs of joy," a joy, my friend, like 
the peaceful, tranquil flowing of yon deep river's 
ftream ; fee how folid it moves along ! a noble 
fteadinefs is obfervable in it. Such is the joy 
that Jefus gives ; while the vain crackling joys 
of vanity and fin are like the little- rattling 
brooks, whofe ftreams are full of agitation and 
trouble from every little ftone that lies upon its 
bottom. The fhallownefs of thofe brooks is the 
caufe that their ftreams are fo difturbed and un- 
fettled ; fo the fhallownefs of worldly joy is the 
caufe that, every little rub interrupts and fpoils 
it. 

How fiiould I rejoice if thefe reflections on 
creation's fweets might lead you more and more 
to the fountain of all happinefs ! For be affured, 
like thofe flowers, I want not to fhew or difplay 



96 A Small Biinch of Violets* 

myfelf ill thefe reflections, but only am defifo'tis 
of enriching you with What may promote your 
peace and happinefs forever. I would learn to 
rejoice in the welfare of others. I would learn 
to ufe all that may be given me for the good 
of my fellow creatures ; whilft, like thofe flow- 
ers, I would point out Jefus, as only worthy of 
admiration and honour ; and would content 
myfelf in the honour and glory of him who 
alone is worthy of the.fa'me. 

Oh, my friend, the more felfifhnefs ceafes, 
the more true happinefs abounds* A man in 
ChrifFs Spirit feeks not his own things. He 
can find pleafure in another's pleafure ; he can 
rejoice in another's joy ; he can be happy in 
another's happinefs, Chrift's Spirit envies not 
the happinefs or honour of any, is not puffed 
up with felf excellences, feeks not its own glory 
or honour, is not eafily provoked, becaufe it 
learns to bear the weakneffes of man, knowing 
human nature is very weak and frail. A chrif- 
tian in the Spirit of Jefus, dies to felfifii ends, 
and finds unfpeakable fatisfaclion in the real 
welfare and happinefs of others ; infomuch, 
that the more others are happy, the greater is 
his treafures. Oh when God fends the Spirit 
of his Son into any heart, fuch a heart imme- 
diately is afhamed of its felfiihnefs ; and now 
he learns a diiferent love from felf love. This 
is " the wifdom which comes from above, which 
is "firft pure, then peaceable, gentle, eafy to be 
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, with- 
out- partiality, and without hypocrify." Oh how 



A Small Bunch of Violets* 97 

does human exceilency fhrink before die worth 
of Jefus' Spirit. A foul that has put on the 
Lord Jefus Chrift i^ glorioufly clothed ; then 
may fuch a one be faid to be clothed with hu- 
mility. Some gracious experience of the ex- 
cellency of Jefus Chrift, makes me very defirous 
to fee you finning in his luftre, wearing the new 
man, where Chrift is all your joy, and all your 
treafure. 'Tis my fmcere prayer he may blefs 
my poor fcribblings to this end. Jefus teaches 
me not to defpife little matters. A bud always 
goes before a flower ; the excellency of a whole 
garden's treafures come to their perfection by 
fmall degrees. So, my friend, I affure you* 
creation itfelf teaches me to encourage you, and 
to nurfe the fmalleft fnoots of your youthful 
mind. Jefus' Spirit leads me thus ; and I think 
I may fafely fay, he affifts me in many things H 
fay to you. 

I am, Your's, &c. 



EPISTLE IV. 



COME, my friend, once more if you pleafe 
we will walk in the garden, where w T e have had 
already fo much pleafure and profit. Behold 
an alcove opening a view to a mod extenfive 
green and verdant lawn ! the trees on e ach fide, 
forming high walls of leaves, where the little 
birds in foothing w r arblings, pleafe the ear, and 

I 



98 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

calm the mufmg mind. Here let us fit awhile/ 
and enjoy the feaft of friendly converfe. 

I am ju ft thinking, as pleafures are the chief 
purfuit of the human mind, that it is of great 
confequence to make a judicious choice of them. 
Undoubtedly all pleafures or amufements ought 
t,o be approved or difapproved, according as 
they promote or hinder our real welfare or hap- 
pinefs. By this touchftone may we try, which 
of them are our friends, and which of them our 
foes. For we may fafely prpnounce all thofe 
pleafures, which have a tendency to hinder our 
real happineis, to be our dangerous enemies, and 
which we ought carefully to fhun, and fo much 
the more, as they are difguifed under the faireit 
appearances. With refpect to pleafures, they 
may be ranked in two cl^ffes ; either thole 
which are fet before us by the liberal hand of 
our gracious God and Saviour, and which may 
be called natural or fimple pleafures ; or thofe 
which are fet before us by the invention or de- 
vice of man, and which may be called unnatural 
and artificial pleafures. Now we will examine 
thefe two claffes, and endeavour to find our 
which of them tend to promote our happinefs, 
and which of them tend to hinder it ; and by 
coming to the knowledge of this matter, we 
may be happily afflfted in our choice, which ta 
receive, and which to reject. 

With regard to fimple or natural pleafures f 
they are various ; fuch as the harmony and 
beauty of the creation, in its plants, flowers, 
trees, birds, hearts, waters and fifhes ; as all© 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 99 

the glory of the creation in the fun, confidered 
with refpect to its brightnefs and luftre, and its 
beneficial influences and great ufefulnefs upon 
the earth ; as alfo the different feafons of the 
year, infpring, fumraer, &c. The difference of 
night and day* the furprifing revolutions of the 
planets, and the regularity and wonderful fwift- 
nefs of their movements. Here we may alfo 
consider the exceeding ufefulnefs of the four 
elements, earth, air, fire, and water. 

From the earth fprings all the innumerable 
wonders of trees, plants, fruits, flowers, &c. All 
abounding in the moft exquifite colours, fmells, 
taftes, and ufefulnefs. 

Through the channel of the air, flows all 
the refrefhing dews, rains, and fweet influences, 
which give the earth its pleafmg afpect and rich 
fruitfulnefs ; the air alfo is the great field, 
where the innumerable tribes of birds range, of 
all forts and colours, pleafmg to the fight, grate- 
ful to the ear, from their various and pretty 
notes, and extenfively ufeful in the fpreading 
our tables with food. From the element of 
fire, of which the fan is the fountain, flows heart 
cheering light and warmth ; caufing the crea- 
tion to fmile, and to wear the moft cheerful 
countenance, filling it with fruitfulnefs and 
beauty. And, laftly, from the element of 
water are we indebted, in every particular of 
life almoft, whether abroad or at home ; by it, 
all eatables are made wholefome and palatable ; 
by it we are enabled to introduce cleanlinefs 
and fweet $efs in our habitations, apparel, an4 



100 A Small Bunch of 3 Violets. 

food. In the waters alio range the innumera- 
ble variety of fifties, great and fmall, of every 
fort and kind, for our ufe'and profit. 

Again, fimple pleafitres comprehend the con- 
templation of the wonderful ftructure of our own 
bodies and faculties, the fenfations of friendfhip, 
benevolence, and -all the mutual endearments of 
the various focial connexions of life. Oh what 
a field is heie for true pleafure and entertain- 
ment ! Oh what furniture is here for fweet 
thoughts, and reflections, and pleafing medita- 
tions ! how might the noble faculty of fpeech 
be here employed to our pleafure and real prof- 
it ! and converfation be made one of the great- 
eft pleafures in life. 

In the rank of fimple pleafures we may in- 
clude alio converfation with books, when judi* 
cioufly ehofen, and written by the truly wife. 
For inch a prudent reading enlarges the mind, 
exercifes the thoughts, and makes converfation 
one with another more rich and full of matter. 
But above all, the Rudy and reading of the fa- 
ired fcrbtures, dictated by God's own Spirit, 
ueierves the preference, and is full of comfort 
and delight. It would be endfefs to enumerate 
the various pleafures, which nature m its fimphv 
city continually affords. 

Now let us conilder how far thefe pleafures 
tend to our real welfare and happinefs. In the 
firfc place, they are produced from the moll: 
penreft and unerring wifdom and power of Im- 
manuel, ;< in whom dwelleth all the treafures 
of wifdom and knowledge ;" and whofe works 



■. 



. H 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 101 

cannot have the leaft imperfection or fault, 
And in confequence of this, thefe pleafures are 
full of peace, compofure and tranquillity ; they 
never cloy the mind, they never hurt it ; but 
are fuch real friends to our welfare, that at the 
feme time they pleafe us, they naturally lead 
the mind to the bounteous giver of them all, 
and point out the love of God. Oh, my friend, 
how valuable^re fuch pleafures ! how deferving 
our efteem and regard ! Thefe pleafures alfo are 
as open and ready to offer their fei vice to the 
poor as well as rich. Money is of no avail here. 
For thefe pleafures are without expenfe or price. 
Again, they are always at hand ; tliey wait up- 
on us at home and abroad, or when alone, or 
in conversation, they prefent their fervica. Thefe 
are pleafures which excite no envy, pride, or 
emulation, but rather cherifh in the mind kind- 
nefs and good will to one another. Thefe pleaf- 
ures never tire or fatigue the fpirits, but pro- 
mote the health both of the body and mind ; 
they promote cafe and content in every ftation 
of life ; they excite cheerfulnefs, and courtefy 
snd feienity of mind, and lead us continually, 
to the true end of our creation. Such are the 
pleafures which flow from the wifdom of God. 
in fhort, they are innocent, ufeful, pleating, in- 
structive, ferene, and without expenfe. Thefe, 
oh Jefus, are thy wife contrivances, and pure 
perfeel works. Oh then they are truly valu- 
able, and worthy to be efteemsd and embraced. 
But now, my friend, let us examine thofe 
pleafures which are the inventions o£ man, and 

I 2 



102 A Small Bunch of Violets* 

artificial, and fee whether they merit the fame 
efteem and value. With regard to the pleafures 
under the fecond clafs, they are various ; fuch as 
all forts of games, plays, dancings, mufic meet- 
ings, cards, faihions, dreffes, fhews, Sec. Now 
let us confider how far thefe pleafures tend to 
our real welfare and happinefs. 

As the pleafures of nature flow from the pur- 
efc and moil, excellent wifdom and grontrivance of 
Jems the perfection of purity, fo thefe artificial 
pleafures flow from the moil confummate igno- 
rance and folly. They now from the impure 
fountain of corrupted nature, and are the chil- 
dren of folly, pride and fin. And as fuch, they 
are full of poifon and venom, hurry, trouble and 
agitation ; they weary their purfuers, difcom- 
pofe their minds, and increafe folly, pride and 
iin> and entirely caufe a difreliih to all the 
charms of finiple nature ; and fuch real enemies 
are they to our true welfare and happinefs, chat 
they lead the mind entirely away from God, and 
from the end of our creation. They cloak the 
mind with weeds, and continually blow up the 
coals of pride, envy, emulation, vanity and non- 
ienie ; and caufe in the foul a continual fever 
and flatter. 

Again, as they ate expenfive, they ftir up the 
love of money, the root of all evil, and by this 
means introduce diilatisfaction in our feveral fta- 
tions of life, and fo rob the mind of thofe pre- 
cious jewels, eafe and repofe. They alfo tend 
to qu^iiui every fpark of religion, and to ripen 
t mind mere and more to hate God, and all his 
ways, 



ji Small Bunch of Violets, 10$ 

Again, with regard to reading, thefe plea£ 
tires caufe the mind to relifh no books but th$fe 
which tend to corrupt and inflame the mind, and 
to fill it with extravagant and unnatural ideas 
and imaginations. Hence fprings the peft of all 
romances, novels, lies, and falfities ; where all 
the curfed fruits of fin are adorned and dreffed 
up by the devil, to fteal and infmuate thefe 
things into the human mind ; and fo caufe tha 
foul to loath the pure word of God, and the dic- 
tates of wifdam and truth ; fo that nothing plea- 
fcsbut what is unnatural anxl falfe, abominable 
and iiniul. Such are the bitter fruits of artifi- 
cial pleafures. And the fame evils flow from 
all the pleafures of man's invention, of whatever 
fort or kind. With thefe pleafures is it that the 
devil is continually baiting his hooks to catch un- 
wary fouls ; by which they may become an eafy 
prey to his power and deviliih malice. The 
:eafures of man's invention entirely unfifc die 
ind for anv other converfaticn than what is 
ain, foolifh, empty, infipid, and fmfuh With 
thefe fruits ail that is faid or ipoke is tinctured ; 
while every other fubjecc, truly valuable, is ban- 
iihed from the place, being quite difrelillied and 
even mocked at : fuch are the poifonous fruits 
of fhefe pleaiures which deluded man calls inno- 
cent amufements. But furely they are enmity 
againR: God ; they are the ftrong holds of Satan ; 
the canker of the mind, and the deftroyers of all 
true peace, reft, and joy in this world, and lead 
to deilniclion in the next. Oh, who then but 
tick as ?*re blinded by the devil would follow 



104« A Small Bunch of Violets. 

thefe pleafures, fuch bloody foes to true happi* 
nefs and peace ! Surely, furely, every wife per-p 
fon would ihun them as the plague itfelf. For 
as they are criminal, deceitful, falfe, artificial, 
and flowing from corrupt nature, they deferve 
to be rejected and utterly renounced, by all that 
feek for true happinefs. But oh, " in wifdom's 
ways, all is pleafantnefs, and all her paths are 
paths of peace." Come then, my friend, w T ith 
cheerfulnefs and true chriitian courage, refufe 
fuch pleafures which are the production of cor- 
ruption and fin ; and Jefus will guide you con- 
tinually in the way of " his peace, which paffeth 
all underftanding." Much more might be faid 
pn this fubjecl, but methinks the ceafing of the 
little birds to fmg, and the falling * dews, put us 
in mind of returning home ; fo here we will 
break off the fubjecl: at prefent. If any hints 
that are here dropt, may be fome means of at? 
lifting you in a wife choice of your amufements, 
it would give great joy to him who now con* 
eludes himfelf Yours, &c. 






I> , m yt^^ a tiaitam0mmmmtb,umi:^mjLamMmmsKmaammeum i— 41.1m n—Ej—Me— )— yfc— — w» 



EVANGELICAL POEMS 



SOLILOQUY ON THE VANITY OF LIFE. 



O 



H life, a painted bubble fure thou art, 
That with thy gaudy ihows doth cheat the heart ; 
Thofe things which thou doft fet before our eyes, 
When touched they burft, and all their beauty 

dies, 
A fhadow vain is all terreflrial joy, 
Which foon the heart of mortal man doth cloy. 
True peace in worldly things is but a dream, 
Though, diftant view'd, to promife much dotk 

fe'em, 

How oft this truth have I been deeply taught ! 

And yet how eft bewitcht therein and caught ! 
♦ 

* Vain world, farewell, and all thy empty ware, 
To feek for joy I elfe where now prepare. 
I'm now inclin'd to tread the narrow way, 
Which leads to peace and everlafting day. 
For fure 'tis He alone who made my foul, 
(Where thoughts immenfe continually do roll,) 
That can content its eager craving grafp, 

:ilca pines and longs true folid peace to clafp, 



106 A Small Bunch of Violets, 

What's this that beams within my troubled 

breaft, 
And feems to point the way to peace and reft ? 
It fays that in the love of God there's balm, 
That all the forrows of the mind doth calm. 
That in his prefence is the fulleft joy, 
And pleafures rich and fure, which ne'er can 

cloy. 
Come then, my foul, unto thy Saviour go, 
Exchange for things above, thy toys below ; 
Patient awhile, and with him thou fhalt reign, 
^uite free from all thy fin, and giief, and pain. 



THE SEARCH AFTER HAPPINESS- 



O 



H happinefs ! at which all men do aim, 
How few know more of thee than juft the name, 
Alas ! how eager is poor mortal's chafe 
In fearch of thee, in ev'ry land and place : 
They talk of thee, and yet they know thee not ; 
Ah, few there be that find the happy fpot. 

Early in life, with youth and fpirits flufh'd, 
In queft of happinefs, I fwiftly rufh'd ; 
And, firft, I fearch'd in pleafure's painted field, 
Put ah ! the fought for pearl it did not yield. 
I drefs'd, and danc'd, look'd brifk ; and bold, and 

g a » 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 107 

And thus I cours'd the genVal giddy waty. 
To various things I now myfelf apply 'd ;* 
No ftone I left unturn'd to feed my pride : 
Eager that I might each acquirement gain, 
That I the end of all might foon attain ; 
Which was, to court my fellow mortals' praife, 
That they upon a worm might look and gaze. 
To pleafe, not God, but man, my chiefeft care : 
To lofe applaufe, was too my greateft fear. 

Some time being fpent in this my gay pur- 

fuit, 
High time, methought, 'twas now to reap the 

fruit. 
But ah, alas ! I found* 'twas all a cheat, 
Pricks, thorns, and flings, compos'd the bitter 

treat. 
Sometimes among (I the rich and great I'd go ? 
But foon I learn' d, 'twas all an empty mow : 
Riches and honours cry'd, " Peace dwells not 

here : 
" All is not gold that doth like gold appear." 
I now began to flack my giddy race, 
For thoughts like thefe my foul would oft op- 

prefs, ' 

If I fliould die, what comes of all this drels ? 
Ah me ! mud all thefe things, fo rich and brave, 
Be quite obfcur'd within the dufky grave ? 
Muft all this furniture, fo gay, fo bright, 
Be veil'd for ever in eternal night ? 
Of what avail, all this my toil and pains, 
When death (hall flrip me of fuch empty gains ? 
Such were the thoughts that prey'd upon my 

heart, 



108 A Small Bunch of Violets, 

And caused, at times, much forrow, grief am£ 
fmart. 

I now, chagrin'd, began a frefh purfuit ; 
To feek for reft, I took another rout : 
For oh I thirfted much to tafte this fruit. 
The noify city and its gaudy dreams, 
I left, and hafted to the rural fcenes, 
*Tis here, I cry'd, true happinefs I'll find, 
Which fhall content the hung'rings of my mind* 
Now much I flipt away from bury crowds, 
And paid my court to meads, and flreams, and 

woods. 
Ye woods and filent fhade.'S, ye privy were, 
How oft I fought for peac,*e with many a tear I . 
But ah, alas ! how much was I furpris'd, 
To find in rural charms 'twas not comprised ; 
For oft, when bury'd in fome friendly fhade, 
Where art thou, art thou, happinefs, I faid ! 
The warbling birds, in vain fcheir carols try'd j 
Something's yet wanting, my poor fpirit cry'd. 
In fair creation's fwee': and kind retreats 
I hop'd to find contend with all her fweets. 
How oft, oh Kenfington, thy verdant charms, . 
Whole days have fcixen'd me from the town's 

• alarms ! 
How oft wjth difcontent and anguifh torn, 
I brufh'd with wea'ry flep each flow'ry lawn ! 
You're privy to my feveilings, throbs, and ilgfysj 
With folded arms, and downcaft heftd and eyes. 
You're fair, faid I, but like a painted dream, 
Yon foon muft 3x)fe what beauteous now detk 

> feem : 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 10£ 

Mutation frowns upon your verdant pride ; 
Content in what's fo fading can't refide. 
Ye blooming rofes that perfume the air, "> 

A few days more, and then you'll difappear : > 
Such human blifs ! I cry'd, and dropp'd a tear. J 

At length, convinc'd that all the world was 

grafs, 
Such thoughts as thefe within my foul would 

pafs. 
In vain from place to place, I feek for reft ; 
All earthly joys prove thorns, when clofely 

prefs'd. 
My mind immortal cannot happy be 
In aught that's dafh'd with mutability. 
All earthly things, foon like the morning dew, 
Do quickly fade, and lofe their brighteft hue. 

Soo/» after this, I met with fuch a friend, 
Which fure the love>of God to me did fend, 
To fhew my foul the precious road to peace f 
And where to find the cordial balm of eafe. 
Oh Hervey dear ! how can I e ? er forget 
The day when firft thy happy converfe met ; 
A fettled joy and peace fhone in thy look, 
Before thee lay God's holy, facred book. 
Of thee I learn'd, that on the throne of God, 
Fair peace did keep her fix'd and fole abode : 
That Chrift alone could only give me reft, 
The Prince of Peace, who calms the troubled 

breaft. 
In fhort, this path I now did burn to tread ; 
I hunger'd much to feed on heavenly bread, 

K 



110 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

My ears receiv'd, and drank the joyful founds 
And foon my heart with joy did too abound : 
I now was blefs'd, and did receive my light ; 
From darknefs brought into ChrirVs glorious 

light. 
The fecret of the Lord my foul did prove, 
And found contentment in his wond'rous love. 
I did no more with pining grief complain, 
Sorrow was fled, with all its gloomy train. 
Immanuel's name a myftery contain'd* 
So fweet, it drove away whatever pain'd. 
'Twas now I found that folid heav'nly reft, 
Which glows within the real chriftian's breaft. 

True happinefs I now moft furely know 
Dwells not in any mortal thing below ; 
They who believe in Chrift alone do find 
That joy which only can content the mind : 
Then town or country both alike they prove, 
Each place is bleft where Chrift doth give his 
love. 

Oh prais'd be God, I've prov'd the fecond 
birth ; 
And now I long to quit this brittle earth. 
u For me to live is Chrilt, to die is gain :" 
With angels foon I'll fmg a higher itrair,. 






A 



A Small Bunch of Fielets. 1 1 1 



A morning's invitation. 



RISE, my friend, let's to the fields repair, 
And tafte the fragrance of the morning's air ; 
The riflng fun beams forth his gladdening ray, 
And chafes fwift the {hades of night away. 
Now the brifk lark his lively fong begins, 
Joy fwells his throat, and flutters on his wings. 
The tuneful thrum fprings from his downy neft. 
And warbles cheerful from his little breaft. 
Green hills and dales the joyous fignal takes, 
And all the feather'd race from {lumber wakes. 
The bleating flocks and lowing herds arife, 
And gladly join the chorus of the fkies : 
While from the cryftal wat'ry limpid ftream, 
The bounding fifh acknowledges the theme. 
Expanding flow'rs now break their dewy tear, 
And fcent with thoufand fw&ets th* ambient 

air. 
The butterfly doth now his plumes difclofe, 
And fips ambrofia from the blufhing rofe. 
Awhile let's fliun the world's vain noife and 

ftrife, "~~" 
And tafte the calmer joys of rural life. 
*No anxious cares do nature's fweets annoy, 

* This poem fuppofes the mind to be at peace with 
God by Jefus Chrift; and then experience fufficiently con- 
vinceth, that the whole creation is as a handmaid to afiift 
and help the foul in its fpiritual courfe. But without 
peace within, anxious cares and discontents will iollow 
poor man wherefoever he goes ; as may plainly appear 
fay the author's own confefjion in the foregoing poem, 



112 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

Whofe fober bleflmgs cheer, and never cloy. 
Let's gaze, and talk, and gratefully admire, 
Wonders that tun'd of old the pfalmift's lyre. 
With him tranfported with the glorious fight, 
Let's praife our Maker, and his love recite. 
He bids the grape pour its mectarious juice ; 
The lufcious pear he mellows for our ufe. 
He hangs the mufky apricot and melting 

peach ; 
And bends the purple plum within our reach. 
For us his goodnefs form'd the warbling 

throng, 
And tunes the nightingale's harmonious fong. 
Behold the flow'ry populace around, 
With fplendid colours paint the verdant 

ground ! 
His bounty cloth' d them in that rich array ; 
His bounty bid them all their balms difplay. 
From which, that we might reap a coftly treat, 
He form'd the bee, t'extract the liquid fweet ; 
And taught them how with nicefl (kill to make 
The lufcious balfam of the honey's cake. 
God's goodnefs waves thefe fertile fields of 

corn ; 
And on their plenteous tops, his love is borne. 

Come, oh my friend, in tranquil peace let's 

walk, 
And on thefe glorious themes we'll fweetly 

talk, 
Where, free from noife, God's mercy, grace 

2nd love, 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 113 

Shall tune our fpeech, and wing our thoughts 

atyove ; 
And by true faith, we'll unfeen things de- 

fcry, 
And learn both how to live, and how to die. 



ON 



THE BIRTH OF THE ADORABLE. JE SU S 



C 



AN any nobler theme invite my pen, 
Than this difplay of love to fmful men ? 
" To us a child is born, a Son is given ;" 
The virgin's child, and yet the Lord from 

heaven : 
The woman's feed, and yet the mighty God ; 
His name Immanuel, fit to be ador'd. 
Creation's author now becomes a man, 
And brings to light redemption's glorious 

plan. 
Angels' pure nature doth net on him take, 
But Ab'ram's feed, a lading peace to make. 
My God, I fing of humble Mary born, 
Sure never, never was a brighter morn. 
With healing in his w T ings this fun did rife, 
More cheering far than that which gilds the 

ikies. 
A fun of righteoufnefs, Jefus is his name, 
To fave me from my fins on earth he came. 
The buds of fpring, from warmth of fun deriv'd, 

1 K2 



114; A Small Bunch of Violets \ 

By dews and rains are not fo much revived, 
As is my foul when I by faith can fee* 
The fun's Creator, born a man for me. 
This Sun my budding hopes doth fweet expand, 
And fmooths my way, whilft in a foreign land. 
This Sun fuch bright and glorious beams 

difplays, 
It turns my darkeft nights to blooming days. 
I blefTed am in Jefus' facred name ; 
His boundlefs love I will aloud proclaim : 
My foul rejoices in my Lord and God, 
Becaufe I'm bought with his moll precious 

blood : 
My fins in his own facred body dear, 
With all their filth, and guilt, and wrath, he 

bare : 
He lov'd and wahVd me from the heavy load ; 
And cloth'd me with the righteoufnefs o| 

God. 
" Truth and fweet mercy in him kindly meet, 
And righteoufnefs and peace each other greet :" 
In fweetefl harmony they here agree, 
From hell, and death, and wrath, to fet me 

free. 
" In me (that's in my flefli) dwells no good 

thing," 
Yet in the Lamb I'm perfect, pure and clean. 
In him a glorious name I now poffefs, 
Both wifdom, life, and ilrength, and right- 
eoufnefs. 
Fm born anew in Jefus Chrift my head, 
In him I live, being quick'ned from the dead, 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 115 

Rifen with him, I now on things above 
Fix my attention, for my " God is love." 



i . . i i 



THE CATERPILLAR AND BUTTERFLY, 



O 



NE morn upon a fragrant role, 
Which did a thoufand fvveets difcioie, 
Its leaves befprinkled o'er with dew, 
And blufhing with a crimfon hue ; 
A butterfly in gay attire, 
Its wings difplay'd, where did confpire 
More beauteous tints, than what array'd 
The coat of Jofeph, when betray 'd. 
The gaudy fly feem'd bufy here, 
In Tipping up the balmy tear ; 
And much inclin'd was I to think, 
It prov'd a rich and precious drink. 

Upon a neighb'ring leaf below, 
Crawling with heavy fteps and flow, 
A caterpillar worm T fpy'd, 
Whofe rufty coat with brown was dy'd : 
When ftraight it foon began to eat 
The traihy leaves, a homely treat : 
It knew no relifli, for the flow'r, 
Which tho' around its fweets did pour. 
The grov'Uing worm enjoy'd it not* 



115 A Small Bunch of Violds^ 

Nor knew his neighbour's better lot. 

This fight did hold my fteps and eyes. 
And drew my mind to moralize : 
Behold, faid I, this poor mean worm, 
Which crawls along m reptile form i 
It knows no higher feafl than leaves ^ 
And all the fweets that rofes gives : 
It overlooks and mindeth not, 
Nor cares for all a fmgle jot : 
To tafle the rofe it has no fenfe, 
But gives to leaves the preference. 

This infect then, fo vile and low, 
The natural man doth plainly {how ; 
Whofe tafte's fo bad, and very mean, 
And love to trafh fo very keen, 
That all the fweets of Sharon's Rcfe, 
And bleffings which it doth difclofe, 
No pleafure to him do afford, 
Tho' fragrant with the love of God : 
Not all the fweets of chriflian peac«, 
Nor all it's flow'rs of balmy eaie, 
Are taking to his tafte or fight- 
Such are the children of the night. 
On earthly things their minds do crawly 
On leaves, and trafh, and garbage roll : 
There, ever ftufPd with dufl and it rife, 
They trample on the bread of life : 
Thus they with this poor worm agree, 
Atid in this glafs themfelves may fee. 

But now I quickly turn'd my eye. 



A Small Bunch of Vioidi, 117 

And gaz'd upon my butterfly. 
A woiid'rous chanp-e, I cry'd, is lierel 
Which doth before me now appear. 
What beauties do thy wings difplay, 
Whilfl: flutt'ring in the beams of day 1 
How different now is thy employ ! 
How difPrent too thy fenfe of joy. 
A month ago, like this poor worm, 
Was clothed in a reptile form ; 
No wings hadft then to foar and fly, 
Nor could the fweets of flowers defcry % 
Like him, would faften on a leaf, 
And mar its edges with thy teeth ; 
Efteeming it both fweet and good, 
Eftrang'd from more delicious food. 
But now being rifen from the dead, 
To loathe fuch trafh art fully made : 
To fip and feaft on flow'ry balm, 
Doth now thy tafte and fenfes charm : 
Thou now doft fly, and wing thy way, 
And lov'ft to bafk in imiles of dav ; 
Waving around thy painted wings, 
Surpaffing far the robes of kings : 
To crawl and creep, no longer now, 
Since thou art made a creature new. 

With wonder fill'd, I paus'd awhile, 
My foul with joy did inward fmile ; 
At length my thoughts in utt'rance brake # 
And thus again began to fpeak. 

How lively doth this emblemife 
Thole cjiriftian fouls, thoie truly wife, 



J 18 A Small Buneh of Violets^ 

Who in the Lord are born anew, 
To tafte the joys both full and true. 
They now forfake the giddy throng," 
" Old things with them are paft and gone ; ,J 
They now mount up, and bafk, and foar, 
On wings of faith ; they now explore 
The flow'ry fweets of Jems' love, 
Where trueft joys they richly prove ; 
Salvation's garment now they wear, 
And in God's righteoufhefs appear ; 
In which they always beauteoifs fhine, 
And drink large draughts of love divine. 
Being; clothed with their Lord and God* 
And wafh'd from fin in Jems' blood ; 
They now rejoice in his free grace, 
/\nd cheerful run their chriftian race : 
Counting all things but dung and drofs, 
But what's contain'd in Jems' crofs. 
They part with all their former toys, 
Exchang'd for more than heavenly joys % 
Contented with the bread of life, 
They fly from worldly noife and ftrife ; 
The tranfient fweets of earthly things, 
No real pleafure to them brings, 
Unlefs in them they tafte the Lord, 
Unlefs in them they find their God, 

Thus mufing to myfelf did fay* 
The real chriftian clearly may, 
As in a glafs, himfelfefpy, 
Whilft gazing on a butterfly. 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 119 

Nor ended yet my moral here, 
For Something more did now appear. 
jMeth ought as forms do much furpais 
Their fhades reflected in a glafs, 
So much doth chriftian biifs exceed 
Its image faint, which here I read. 
For this bright mining gaudy fly 
Will foon corrupt, and fade, and die \ 
All its gay colours tarnifh muft, 
And fall, and crumble in the duft ; 
And very foon will be forgot, 
As if it had exifted not* 

Notfo the chriftian new born-man j 
On him corruption never can 
Deprive him of his heav'nly (lore, 
Encreaiing always more and more. 
His bleifed path, like dawning light, 
Each moment rifmg yet more bright, 
Till all is fill'd With perfect day, 
Such, fuch, indeed's the chriftian way. 
And what doth crown his weight of blifs$ 
And joy divine, confifts in this ; 
No thief, or moth, can e'er aifail 
His treafure great within the veil. 
But oh ! what words can fully trace 
Th' unbounded riches of God's grace i 
Too rich, and full, to be expreft ; 
Come then, my foul, and mufe the rerb 

Yet filence now once more I brake, 
And to the reptile worm I fpake. 
Thou muft be bcrn again, to tafta 



120 A Small Bunch of Fields 

The treafures of thy neighbour's feaft ; 
Till then thou wilt no credit give, 
That dying is the way to live. 
But if thou never prov'ft a change, 
Thou ne'er can'il fly, nor foar, nor range c 
Ah ! foolifh worm, thy prefent cafe 
Is but at beft, thy true difgrace : 
Such thou wilt know, when thou fhalt die* 
And rife again a butterfly. 

Thus foolifh man, involv'd in pride? 
Converfion's change he doth deride ; 
And though his glory is but grafs, 
Which in God's eye as dung doth pafs, 
Yet ftill is pium'd in his difgrace, 
And moclcs and fcorns the newborn race ; 
Who, being wak'd from nature's night, 
And made to mine in Jefus' light ; 
Still worldly men, in ign'rance.clad, 
Eiteem them fools, and think them mad. 

Ah, foolifh men, while not too late, 
Ceafe from your fcorn, and pride, and hate f 
If you would gain the happy prize, 
Become as fools, and you'll be wife. 
The change which catterpillars prove, 
When they can fly and fweetly rove, . 
Js but an image low and faint, 
Of ev'ry chriftian new born faint. 
When once the bleffed change you prove,, 
You then will find that Jefus' love 
(Which now you think an idle dream, 
Tfce produce only of mere whim) 






A MaS Bunch of Violets, 121 



Is confolatidn fare and ftrong, 

And that believers much ycu.wronge 

The beauties of the butterfly 
The caterpillar can't defcry : 
No more can you your credit give 
To that bleft life -which chriftians live. 
'What then, becaufe you're poor and blind. 
Think you, you hurt a chriftian mind ? 
No, no, their joy is much above 
The reach of all your hate and love. 
They only wifli your bleffed change, 
That you with them may alfo range 
In all the paths of chriftian peace, 
Where difcontents doth ever ceafe. 
Then you mall too your voices raife. 
And join with them the Lord to praife 2 
Singing how worthy is the Lamb, 
Who fav'd us from our thrall and fhamej 
All power and honour to receive, 
tri heaven abo^ve, and earth beneath : 
And then afide, I'll lay my pen, 
And join with all, to fay Amen. 



ON PRESENTING A ROSE* 



T 



HIS beauteous rofe, whofe filken bJufhing 
leaves, 

On aH around^ its charming fragrance breathes^ 

h 



122 A Smali Bunch of Violets W- 

Will quickly wither ; its colours fade away, 
Its bloom will ficken, and its fweets decay. 

Such is the glory of poor mortal man ! 
His life a vapour, and his days a fpan. 
And though, like flowers, amidft the humbler 

grafs, 
Some do their lower comrades much furpafs, 
In beauty, riches, honour, pomp, and parts. 
Profound in knowledge, vers'd in curious arts ; 
Yet when the gaudy bubble life doth break, 
Then all together in one mouldering heap 
Of earth, and duft, like flowers and grafs do lie : 
For grafs muft fade, and flowers they mud die. 

But though mutation frowns on earthly things, 
Yet glorious tidings now a Saviour brings : 
Whoe'er believes in him fhall never die, 
Their life is hid with Chrift bevond the fkv. 
In him, new born of incorrupted feed ; 
Who did for all their fins on Calv ? ry bleed. 
To them he gives his own unchanging name : 
Both now and ever Jefus Chrift the Lamb. 
He gives eternal life, immortal blifs, 
Unchanging reft, unfading joy and peace. 
Therefore, my friend, in him for ever boaft, 
Who doubly has reftor'd whate'er we loft. 



A Small Bunch .of Violets. 123 



WROTE EXTEMPORE A LITTLE AFTER SUNRISE, 



XT 



AIL ! to thy brightnefs, glorious fun, 
That gilds the opening day ; 
How far beyond the cold pale moon, 
Thy warm fuperiour ray ! 

At thy approach all nature fmiles, 

Its orient tears dry up ; 
The birds with fongs the time beguiles, 

With gladd'ning joy they hop. 

But oh how fhort the tranfient gleam ! 

Thy haftening fteps forebode 
That the refulgence of thy beam 

Is but a fading good. 

Such are the joys of human life ! 

•They bud, they bloom, they die ; 
While pain with pleafure makes a ftrife, 
And change with each doth vie. 

Oh fickly date of fhort liv'd time ! 

Under mutation's rule : 
How oft thy various changes chime, 

Our fanguine fchemes to cool ; 

Well, beauteous fhades, I hear your voice, 
In facred wifdom call ; 



124? A Small Bunch cf Violets 

Your leclures make me much rejoice^ 
And comfort fmiles in all. 

What tho' the golden lamp of day 

Will fwiftly haften down, 
And all life's joys do pafs away. 

And vaniih very fpon ; 

Yet ftill a fun prepares to rife, 

That brings eternal day ; 
And fhews us an immortal priz$ 

That never will decay. 

Eternal life, eternal joys, 

Their treafures will display : 
There — happinefs that never cloys* 

No more mutation's prey. 

The crown of all, eternal love, 

Delighting much to bless ; 
What greater heav'n can be above, 

Than gazing on his face ! 

Then chriftian friends fhall part no more ? 

No more complain of grief ; 
Their losses heav'n will all reftore, 

And brins: to all relief. 



l £> 



Oh may we then, like virgins wife, 
Watch for the Bridegroom's call, 

Keeping in view the glorious prize t 
An$ nought ihall us appal. 



A Small Bunch of Violets* 

Commenced grace is glory's bud, 
E'en while we're here below : 

Grace is the dawn of every good, 
From whence true pleafures flow. 






■wu i 



* sharon's rose. — Cant. ii. 1. 

X^ O balmy flower, in heav'n or earth that 

grows, 
Is half fo fweet as Sharon's beauteous rofe : 
No tongue of man or angel ere can tell 
How much all other fweets it doth excel. 
This fragrant flow'r revives the drooping heart, 
Cures ev'ry grief, and woe, and pungent fmart : 
Its wond'rous virtues gives celeftial peace, 
Which once obtain'd, doth evermore increafe. 
As op'ning buds expand in blufhing flowers, 
When warm'd with April funs and moiftning 

fhow'rs ; 
As light improving to meridian day, 
So boundlefs joys attend his bright'ning way : 
And when all earthly things fliall fade and die, 
Its facred charms will live eternally. 

* Chrift Jefus. 



L2 



126 A Small Bunch of Fields. 

AN ACROSTIC ON JESUS CHRIST, 

X AM the only " Way, tlie Truth, the Life,'! 

'E v'n I, that caufe the waves to ceafe their ftrife< 

S alvation fure, I to my brethren bring : 

U nder the fhade of my almighty wing, 

S ecure they fit, with joyful hearts they fing. 

CalPd by my voice, my fheep foon know the found ; 
H igh rais'd above their foes, their joys abound. 
Releas'd from all their fin, they dwell with me : 
I am the Lord their God who fet them free. 
S kreen'd from all harm, in me they always prove, 
tT he joys I find within my Father's love. 






AN ACROSTIC ON ONE OF CHRIST'S SHEEP, 

V^HOSENin Chrift before the worlds were 

made ; 
O n this foundation was my fafety laid. 
R ich grace provided for my fin a cure : 
New born in Jeftis Chrift I ftaiid fecure. 
~E ternal life in him I now poffefs, 
L ovely alone in his Own righteoufnefs. 
In his moft precious blood and death I gain 1 
U nthought of freedom from my fin and pain : £ 
S ure this demands, of praife, the higheilitrain. J 

C hrift now is rifen, and by all he's prais'd, 
Above the heavens all in glory rais'd : 

Y ielding o'er all eternal pow'r divine, 

L ives, ever lives, and makes his vicVries mine. 
E ach fpirit, high in blifs, adores the Lamb ; 

Y es, thou art Worthy, Lord ! I do the fame; 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 1ST 



THE BELIEVER ADDRESSED BY HIS WATCH. 



B 



ELIEVER, when beholding me, 
An Emblem of thyfelf here fee ! 
My fprings are hid from outward fliew \ 
My ticking pulfe is not in view ; 
And yet my face the hours difclofe ; 
Th* effect appears, though hid the caufe 
I conftant ferve thee, night and day \ 
My work admits of no delay. 

So chriftian, let thy inward light, 
Enjoy'd in Chrift, appear in fight ! 
Let outward works to all proclaim 
Thy faith unfeign'd in Jefus' name ! 
For all who're wahVd in Jefus' blood, 
Are lovers of the law of God. 
What God hath join'd, let none divide ! 
No tree that's good its fruits can hide : 
But let not works affiime ChriiVs place ; 
Thou'rt juftify'd alone by grace. 
Thus faith and works in love agree ; 
This teflon, chriftian, learn of me. 



128 A Small Bund of Violets. 



BELIVERANCE from the law as a covenant 
of works. Rom. vii. 4% 



T 



O thee, O law, I will no longer fly, 
Since thou didft make my bleffed SavioA* die : ' 
Thy vengeance fell upon his facred head, 
By which to all thy threats I now am dead. 
I'll drive no more thy promifes t'obtain ; 
My Saviour's toil to me is greater gain ! 
In him eternal life to me is giv'n ; 
In whofe atoning name, I enter heav'n. 
Thy aid, O law, is ufeless to me now ; 
The Lamb alone, he captivates my view : 
He is the way, by which my courfe I fteer : 
By faith's true light I fail, and cannot fear. 
The current of his blood me bears along, 
The fea of grace to all the favour'd throng. 
This is the way, where grows the flow'r of peace, 
Which foothes the foul, and gives it folid eafe. 
Here grace its beams of love doth fhed abroad ; 
The foul looks up, and fays, behold thy God ! 
In this fweet way, as forward on I move, 
No voice I hear but this, " Thy God is love." 






the new covenant. Jer. xxxii. 33, 34, &c. 



T 



HE covenant of grace with Abraham's feed* 
Which God did make, is grace^lndeed $ 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 1 2$ 

A covenant which (lands both fafe and fure, 
And doth from ev'ry foe the foul fecure. 
The faithfulnefs of God, is here the rock, 
Which keeps the foul in ev'ry trying (hock ; 
Mercy built up, triumphant here doth dwell, 
And (kreens the foul from ev'ry power of hell. 
The fiefh, the world, and its delufive fmiles, 
And Satan's rage, with all his hellifli wiles, 
Which beat fo hard upon the chriftian heart, 
Can't make our God from his own word depart. 
His faithful word abides for evermore, 
And lands his children fafe on Canaan's more* 
All flefh is grafs, like it doth fade away, 
And like the flower its glory doth decay $ 
But yet God's word, it ever will abide, 
As fure as flow'd the blood from Jefus' fide* 
This blood before the throne, fo loudly fpeaks^ 
That my accufmg foe in vain he feeks 
To fet my fins before my Lord and God, 
For they were wafh'd away by Jefus' blood \ 
And now for ever are they blotted out, 
Therefore o'er hell victorious will I fhcut* 
No more with fin I charged e'er can be, 
It dy'd with Jefus on the accurfed tree ; 
But not with Jefus for to rife again ; 
He left behind my curfe, and fin and pain. 
My once fick foul, now heal'd by Jefus' (tripes, 
Refts fafe in God, where all my tears he wipes' ; 
Who fays, ** My love, thou art exceeding fair ; 
" To feaft on love eternal now prepare. 
j? 1 I've lov'd thee fo, that all thy fh^me and fin 
f* Myfelf I bare, and made thee pure and clean : 
ft And now my love thou art fo fair and bright. 



130 A. Small Bunch of Violets. 

" That always thou art perfedt in my fight." 
Exalted now in God's own righteoufnefs, 
There's nought can rob me of my happinefs. 
Thus in the grace of God, I mud rejoice ; 
'Tis this that cheers my heart, and tunes my 
voice. 



EVERLASTING LOVE. Jer. XXXI. 3. 

jQOW rich ! how full ! is God's eternal 

grace ; 
How bright its luftre fliines in Jems' face ! 
"VVho can conceive how much it overflows, 
Beyond the fin of man, and all his woes ? 
Chrift Jefus left his heav'nly throne above, 
To fhew to man the riches of this love. 
For this — was nailed to the fhameful tree, 
That he might fet the captive pris'ner free. 
For this- — his heart was pierced with a fpear, 
That he might loofe our bands of fin and fear. 
For this — the blood and water from his fide 
Its ftreams did run, to wafn his dear lov'd bride. 
For this— was Chrift accurfed in her ftead, 
To fet a cro^n of glory on Ik r head : 
And not in vain were all thefe wonders done ; 
For Jefus fought, o'ercame, and vict'ry won. 
Oh, love immenfe 1 was ever love like this ! 
Which ftoop-'d fo low, to fet my foul in blifs. 
Oh, wifdom infinite, and pow'r divine, 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 131 

And love, and truth, and altogether fhine 
In one bright point, to blefs my ravifh'd heart : 
Oh, fweet effect of Jefus' blood and fmart ! 
Here love and mercy flows, and knows n© 

bounds, 
While God's eternal grace the foul furrounds,* 



LONGING TO BE DISSOLVED* 



T 



H E world I find is all a dream-, 
Therein no fubftance can I find, 
To promife much indeed doth feem, 
And yet it cheats th' immortal mind. 

A ftranger then I here remain, 
Abfent from home a little while, 

When foon relieved from ev'ry pain, 
Shall go to dwell in Jems' fmile. 

This world's frail life is but a death, 
Which much ©bfcures the real day ; 

When th$s poor form (hall lofe its breathy 
I then from death mall fly away, 

Methinks my mind doth much afpire 
To mount unto its native home : 

With pantings ftrong and quick defire? 
I fain would ceafe on earth to roam. 



132 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

A little while I fhall obtain 
• Whate'er my hungry foul can crave 5 
And with the Lord from every (tain, 
Shall praife that grace that did me fave 

"■m« M wnM ii iii wi 'Hi — "j J ( 



THE WlSH. 



X H E only thing my foul defires, 
And unto which it much afpires, 
Is to receive the Spirit's life, 
Where there's no fin,- nor care, nor ftrife 

There is a tree, where God is root, 
The tree is Chrift, which bears good fruit ? 
The branches which this fruit doth bear. 
Are faints who're fav'd from fin and fear. 

The name of this fair fruit is Love : 

In which the faints do always prove, 

The fulnefs of true perfect peace, 

Which ne'er can phange 3 which ne'er can ceafe. 

m 






EVANGELICAL MEDITATIONS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



w 



HEN I obferve in the fcriptuf es how 
conftantly Jefus Chrift taught the myfteries of 
his kingdom by natural figures and fimilitudes, 
it has often aftonifhed me, that many Who pro- 
fefs to be his followers, do prefume to find fault 
with this method of teaching, and dare to con* 
demn it as improper* 

I muft confefs (whilft I have fb great a pre^ 
cedent and example as my God and Saviour, be- 
fore whom all the wifdom of man is but folly) 
I fhall be hardly induced, by any human cen- 
fures, to think the worfe of what I find fo great 
a bleffing to me. What a dead, infipid afpeft 
has all things unlefs they preach Jefus ! On the 
contrary, how facred is every thing made, when 
nature turns handmaid to grace, and every com- 
mon objedt becomes an heavenly inftru&or ! 

I have propofed, by the following medi tac- 
tions, to give the reader a liule fpecimen or hint , 
from my own experience, how he may learn, 
with God's blefiing, to find all things and places 
leading to Jefus and his love. And if it lhall 
pleafe God to caufe thefe imperfeft Sketches ta 

M 



134 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

help the reader in this ble/Ted fcience, I fhall 
greatly rejoice ; for if I may but fucceed m 
pleafmg my God, and edifying his children, I 
fhall fully gain my end, let who will be offend- 
ed : for this I well know, that " if I yet fought 
to pleafe man, I fhould not be a fervant of 
Chrift." 

May the Redeemer's glory arife, and darken 
the glory of all flefh — may his fpiritual kingdom 
come, when all the ufurping, idolatrous glory of 
man fhall ihrink and wither away before the 
brightnefs of his facred appearances — may every 
weapon that is openly or iecretly formed againft 
Jefus, and his true hearted followers, be fnapt in 
pieces — may every tongue that rifeth up in judg- 
ment againft them, be put to confufion — may 
every thing that is oppofite to the real honour 
and glory of God Almighty and the Lamb, 
however difguifed under the faireft appearances 
of religion and piety (to the deceiving, if poffi- 
ble, the very elect) ; I fay, may they be expo- 
fed, deftroyed, and put under his facred feet for 
ever. 

That all flefh, in every fhape or difguife what- 
foever, which feeks to glory in his prefence, may 
be utterly pulled down and deftroyed, is the 
fervent prayer of my foul, naw and for ever- 
more. Amen, 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 135 



MEDITATION I. 

ON THE MICROSCOPE. 



I 



T is one of the remarkable properties of 
of this inftrument, that it Ihews all the mod 
beautiful and polifhed works of human art to 
be but mere rough hewn, and bungling per- 
formances. The fineft polifhed needle, in the; 
microfcope, appears to the eye, as a rough hewn 
bar of iron ; whereas, all the works of the won- 
derful Creator, apnear inimitably beautiful, 
tvhen viewed in this inftrument. 

Methinks this is a lively figure of the fpirit- 
ual microfcope, if I may fo call it, of God's holy 
Spirit : in which glafs, the moft fpecious right- 
coufnefs and merits of the natural man, which 
make fuch a mow in the eyes of the carnal unre- 
generate world, appear no better than filthy rags, 
and abominable ; whereas, the righteoufnefs of 
Chrift, which is imputed unto all that believe, 
appears here in the gieateft luftre and beauty. 

It is to be obferved, that thofe things which 
the natural microfcope difcovers to be fo difa- 
greeable and imperfecT:, appear far otherwife 
to the naked eye : no defecl: being to be perceiv- 
ed in polifhed needles, &c. without this glafs. 
So a carnal, unregenerate mind cannot perceive 
the corruption and abomination of its own na- 
ture and works, being not difcernible to the un- 
renewed eye ; fo far from it, that both its na- 







156 A Small Bunch of Violet *• 

ture and works, appear to it beautiful and come- 
ly. But he that is " born again of the Spirit of 
God," and (if I may repeat it) has got this 
fpiritual microfcope, fees his own heart to be 
corrupt, abominable and treacherous ; and by 
this means is made very willing to flee to Jefus 
Chrift for that righteoufnefs 3 life and falvation, 
which he cannot find in himfelf : and fo rejoi- 
ces and glories in the Lord, and enjoys a peace 
which the world can neither give nor take away. 
If any are defirous of this fpiritual microfcope, 
let them afk it of that beneficent God, who will 
not refufe to give " his Holy Spirit to thofe 
who afk it," from a fenfe of their need. That 
perfon is not far from the kingdom of God, 
who can fay from the bottom of his heart, 
" Lord, open thou my blind eyes." u If any 
man lack wifdom, let him afk it of God> who 
giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not." 
James i, £. 



II. 



ON HEARING THE MUSIC BEFORE THE 
GUARDS IN ST. JAMEs's PARK. 



w 



HILST at fome diftance, I only 
heard the boifterous drum, the hoarfe bafToon, 
and piercing trumpet ; but, upon a nearer ap- 
proach, I perceived the fofter, gentler founds of 
the nice toucht hautboy, which filled my ears 






A Small Bunch of Violets. I $7 

with fweeter and far more tender notes. So is 
the knowledge of (Shrift : the mufic of whofe 
name is more and more fweet, as the foul is led 
nearer and nearer to him ; and new beauties 
and divine touches of joy open thernielves in the 
heart, which it thought not of before, whilft at a 
greater diftance. 

Let this encourage thee, O my foul, to prefs 
forward to the Lord ! and thou fhalt hear the 
ftill fmall voice of Chrift's Spirit ; which fhall 
fo captivate thee with its divine and heavenly 
mufic, as to make thee " learn in every (late, 
therein to be content : for in Chrift's pretence 
there is fulnefs of joy, and at his right hand arc 
pleafures for evermore." 



III. 

ON A ROSESEED. 



W 



HO would think that this little feed 
fhould contain in itfelf a rofe bufh, with all its 
branches and leaves ; as alfo many beautiful 
crimfon rofes, full of fragrance and perfume ! 
Indeed, was it not that experience fhews it, one 
could hardly credit it. But fo it is ; all the 
ways of God are marvellous, and aftoniflflng ! 
But oh, when we confider, that " the kingdom 
of heaven is like a grain of feed," which grows 
up in the foul to a tree of life and immortality ; 

M2 



138 A Small Bunch of Violet u 

then we may indeed be aftonifhed at the mercy , 
as well as power of the Lord. 

The rofe bufh, with all its flowers, muft fade 
and die : but that foul which is born of God, 
is " born of incorruptible feed 9 which liveth 
and abideth for ever ;" and which is fo far from 
decay, that it will improve to all eternity. Oh, 
bleffed are all they who are born of this precious 
feed, which is Jefus Chrift ! they are fecured 
from all harm, and lhall live in joy. and blifs with 
the Lord for ever and ever in the everlafting 
beauties of holinefs and righteoufnefs, never to 
know any more forrow or grief; but fhall eter- 
nally dwell in that facred temple or city, where 
** God Almighty and the Lamb is the everlaf* 
ting light thereof :" to whom be all honour 
and glory for evermore. Amen. 



IV. 

ON A VIOLET, 



W 



HAT a pretty emblem of humility 
is here ! Who would think this little flower, 
growing arhongft the nettles in every common 
hedge's fide, pofTefTed fo rich a fragrance ! 
What flower can boaft a finer purple colour, or 
a friell more exquifite, than this modeft beauty 
doth ? And yet fhe feems to fhun the crowd, and 
'with her lowly head beneath the ftature of a 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 139 

blade of grafs, fhe mingles with the common 
herbage of the field. 

Methinks this is a picture of the humble chrif- 
tian, who, rich in faith and love, declines to 
fhewhimfelf to be admired : contented with his 
Saviour'slove,he does not want the praife of man. 
Such fouls, like the pretty violets, may be over- 
looked by the unthinking crowd ; but thsy are 
feen of God. May I be fuch a one, " whofe 
praife is not of man, but of God." 

Pretty purple monitor ! I will love thee for 
thy humility, as well as beauty ; but more abun^ 
dantly will I love thy Maker, the humble, and 
the lowly Jefus ; whofe purple ftains, the beauty 
fpots of love, yields a fragrance fweet, that heals 
my fin fick foul 

Ah ! now I fee the reafon why 
The violet fweet, of beauteous dye, 
Doth hide its pretty purple head, 
In every hedge's nettle bed ! 
It is to tell me, Sharon's Rofe 
Has charms beyond each flow'r that grows \ 
It is again to let me fee 
My Saviour's deep humility : 
And, by its dark and purple ftain, 
It preaches too his death and pain. 
Jefus then fhall wear the bays, 
Lowly, meek, in all thy ways : 
Violets fweet doth ihew thy praife. 
The violet then henceforth 'fhall be 
A little ftar, to point cut thee. 



HO A Small Bunch of Ffolets. 

V. 

ON THE LIGHT AND INFLUENCE OF THE SUN. 




KAT a difplay of wifdom, love, 
and power, is here ! How cheering and amazing 
k this pre i of light, which, ftreaming all 

around, in millions of animating beams, revives 
the whole irektidn ! How magnificently the 
Pfalmiit has f.efcribed the appearance of this 
wondrous planet, in the following words ! 
« Wnich is as a bridegroom coming out of his 
chamber, and rejoiceth as a ftrong man to run 
a race. Ris going forth is from the end of the 
heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it ; 
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.' ' 
i — Surely, furely, this points at, and may be 
equally applied to that glorious " Sun of right- 
eoufnefs, that living Word of God, by whom all 
things were made f * and of whom the apoflle 
faith, " neither is there any creature that is not 
manifefl: in his fight : but all things are naked, 
and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we 
have to do." Heb. iv. 13. 

If it is fo cheering to fee the beauties of nature 
in the light of the material fun, what muft it be 
to fee eve&y thing in the light of this glorious 
Word, whofe light and heat extends fpiritually 
to every thing, in the fame manner as the light 
and heat of the fun does naturally. It is the 
kings' image flampt upon gold, filver and cop- 
per, that makes their different monies current ; 



A Small Bunclo of fields* i4i 

and though different in value, they all alike bear 
his image and fuperfcription. So are all won- 
drous works, of God by Chrift, the living Word, 
flamped with his image and fuperfcription ; and 
which is experimentally maniieft and plain to 
fuch who walk in the communion of this foun- 
tain of life, and in his light fee light. To fouls 
that not only talk, but do indeed walk in this 
light, the myftery of godlinefs appears to them 
as filling all the works of God*s hands ; and they 
learn to call no longer " thofe things common, 
which God hath cleanfed." To fuch fouls as 
thefe, each bud and blofTom, fruit and flower, 
&c. difplays the glories and myfteries of the Fa- 
ther, Word, and Spirit, in fuch a manner, as 
makes them think the world itfelf a facred tem- 
ple, and all the various particulars of it, as fo 
many divine touches, of thofe golden harps that 
in the fweeteft (trains of heavenly mufic refound 
continually the captivating beauties and perfec- 
tions of Father, Word, and Spirit, the ever adora- 
ble Jehovah, 

How true it may be faid of fuch fouls as 
thefe, " that their teachers are no longer hid in 
a corner :" Jefus, and the power of his refurrec- 
tion, goes on leavening and to leaven more and 
more ; and like a rifmg tide, appears as ready 
to overflow the earth with afecond flood, not of 
death, but of life ; and if I may fo call it, the 
new wine of love and glory. When the living 
Word of God is manifefted in his works, then 
every work of pod becomes a word of God, tf A 



142 A Small Bunch of Fiokti* 

all who have fpiritual ears to hear, and fpirltual 
hearts to underftand. 

Glory be to thee, O Jefus ! who by death has 
rent the vail, that thy little ones might " know 
the my fteries of the kingdom of thy grace, and 
love, and glory." " Thy kingdom is an ever- 
lafting kingdom, and of the increafe of thy gov- 
ernment and peace there fhall be no end." Glo- 
ry be unto thee, O Lord ! " Bleffed are all they 
who are not offended in thee ! O Lord, thou 
knoweft all things, thou km weft that 1 love thee ; 
and well 1 may ; for, O Lord, how great is thy 
goodnefs, and how great is thy bounty ! Both 
heaven and earth is full of thy glory." 



VI. 



ON THE BLOSSOMS OF AN ALMOND TREE, WHICH 
AS FAST AS THEYGREWWERE PICKED OFF BY 
THE BIRDS. 



H 



OW vexatious to fee fuch beauteous 
beginnings nipped off fo foon in the early bud ! 
Notwithstanding the feeming fair profpecl of this 
almond tree, thefe mifchievous birds have de- 
ftroyed in the bloiTom ail the promifmg expecta- 
tions of fruit. 

Ah ! what an emblem is this of many gofpel 
profeffors, whofe beginnings in religion bid very 
fair, who hear the word, feemingly with joy, and 
for a feafon appear to bloffom like a tree in 



J Small Bunch of Violets. US 

fpring ; but alas ! remaining in the earthly na- 
ture, the cares, pleafures, and honours of this 
world, the love and fear of man, dread of per- 
fection, and many other things, nip off their 
buds, and frequently leave them like this almond 
tree, with nothing more than the leaves and 
hufk of the profeffion, deftitute of that fruit 
which is fpirit and life. 

Surely then, there is great need of eare and 
circumfpection, left thieves and robbers fteal 
away thefe beginnings of good things. As this 
is the cafe, how fuitable is that exhortation 
which Chrift gave to his diiciples, when he faid 
unto them,." What I fay unto you, I fay unto 
all, Watch !" Mark xiii. 37. Ah ! dear Lord, 
teach me fo to do. And particularly, I pray 
thee, watch for me ; for " two are better than 
one." That fo, when I am apt to be off my 
guard, thou m aye ft ft ill keep me with a fhep- 
herd's care. Yea, Lord, be this my part, to 
watch, that I may have no confidence but in 
thy watching over me ; fo fhall 

Thy wifdom, love, and pow'r, 
Surround me ev'ry hour. 

So ftiall all the cunning plots and devices of 
all thy enemies and mine, againft me, be entire- 
ly fruftrated and difappointed. 

Oh, my foul, prefs forward then, until thou 
comeft into Immanuei's land, where it may be 
faid of thee, " He will not fuffer thy foot to be 
moved ; he that keepeth thee will not {lumber* 



tii A Small Bunch cf Fields. 

Behold ! he that keepeth Ifrael, mall neither 
Oumber nor fleep. ,> Pfalm exxi. 3, 4*. 

The fight of this poor almond tree feems to 
quicken my defires to come up from the earthly 
nature to the heavenly, even to that " holy moun- 
tain, where nothing mail hurt or deftroy." 
Hafte then, my foul, to Z ion's mount ! the New 
Jerufalem of the Spirit, where, methinks, abtiut 
the gates of " this city of the living God," I 
hear the angels tuning on their golden harps— 

Within this place there is no fear ; 
The Lamb hlmfelf is watchman here i 
.This is the land of joy and peace, 
Where David's wars do end and ceafe. 

Enter then, O my foul, into this ftraight gate* 
where not one grain of felf iufficiency can pafs 
through ! Oh joyous paiTage from the flenYs 
confidence into the all fufficiency of Jehovah, 
Oh, beauteous gate ! the door of peace and reft ; 
" where neither moth nor ruf!: doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through and ileal/' 

Learn then, O my foul, to lay up thy treaf- 
ures in this heaven of die new man, where all 
the fulnefs of God is both the treafure itfeif and 
the keeper of it to all eternity. 

BlefTed Jefus, tranflate me therefore, I befeech 
thee, from the mutability of the flefh, into the 
immutability of the Spirit. " O fend t&y light 
and thy truth ; let them lead and guide me un- 
to thy holy hill, unto the rock that Is higher 
than myfelf. Yet a little while ? and he that 



A Small Bunch of Violets* 145 

fhall come will come, and will not tarry. Even 
fo, come Lord Jeflis, come quickly. Amen." 



VII. 

ON A BLADE OF WHEAT, 



O 



NE may fay upon the fight of this, 
that fmall beginnings have frequently glorious 
endings. There feems to be but very little dif- 
ference between this blade of wheat and a com- 
mon blade of grafs ; but yet the difference is in 
facl very great. For the one is but grafs, how- 
ever tall it grows ; whereas the other has the 
nature of corn in it, though as yet it doth not 
appear. By and by this little blade will fhoot 
up into the ear, and ripen, till it be fit for the 
reaper's fickle. 

Let this teach me not to defpife the day of 
fmall things. For the kingdom of God, in the 
foul of man, is compared to fuch a blade. Its 
beginnings, though fmall, fpring from that pre- 
cious grain Jefus Chrift ; which St. Peter calls 
incorruptible feed ; and where this precious feed 
is at the bottom, it will never ceafe fpringing 
up, until it bring the foul unto the ripe eftate of 
God's " prefence, in which there is fulnefs of 
joy, and pleafures for evermore !" 

Thefe little blades, though hardly to be dif- 
tinguifhed from the common grafs, fpring from 
fo many r£>ots or grains, which fecretly contain? 
in a hidden manner, all thofe bending plenteous 

N 



146 J Smalt Bunch of Floltis. 

heads of golden corn, which are openly manifefc 
ted ixi the time of fmiling harveii. So thofe 
fouls who are really born of God and regener- 
ated by his Spirit, have, in the fecret ef their 
hearts, that precious, precious root, which fecret- 
ly contains in ltfelf all thofe glorious fpiritual 
bleffings, which in the fulnefs of time fhall man- 
ifeft themfelves in their confciences, fo as to make 
them bend beneath the pleafmg weight of love, 
and grace and glory. — Happy then are they, 
that are but in the blade of grace ! for if it 
fprings from that ever living Word and root 
Chrifl Jefus, it fhall furely profper, in fpite of 
all the arts of earth and hell to hinder it. u The 
Lord will work, and who fhall let." 

It is pleafmg to obferve, that all the rigorous 
and fevere weather, of many long and vvintefy 
months, is fo far from hurting the corn in the 
blade, that it does it good. The fnow keeps it 
Warm ; and the fro ft kills the eggs of vermin 
that would d@ft.roy the rifing crop ; and alfo 
keeps it properly back from growing too faft. 
But when the time is come, that it is convenient 
to receive no more hinderance, or impediment, 
behold, the frowns of winter, melt and drflblve 
away, and uiher in the fmiles of fpring. Then 
warming beams of cheering funs, mingling with 
the foft and gentle rains and dews, do caufe the 
little blades to grow apace ; and, with a fwift 
and rapid progrefs, to (hoot up, unfold, and 
fpread their hidden treafures to the open air. 

How many leffons may this teach the chrif- 
tistn foul ? After a perfon is regenerated and bora 



A Small Bunch rf Vkkts, H7 

pf God j many long and heavy wintery trials 
and fcrrows attend the narrow way. But they 
are as needful for his welfare, as the winter is 
for the corn ; and have much the fame ufes in 
a fpiritual fenfe, as the other has in a natural 
fenfe. As this is the cafe, let it teach the candi- 
dates for heaven, to be " patient in tribula- 
tion, to confider the end of the Lord ; that 
the end of the Lord is very pitiful, and of 
tender mercy. Be patient, therefore, breth- 
ren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, 
the hufbandman waiteth for the precious fruit 
of the earth, and hath long patience for it, 
until he receive the early and latter rain. Be 
ye alfo patient ; ftablim your hearts ; for the 
coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James v. 
7 ? 8, 3 0. In God's appointed time ye fhall re- 
ceive the latter as well as the early rain. " Be 
ye not flothful therefore, but be followers of 
them, who, through faith and patience, inherit 
the promifes," Heb. vi. 12. And in God's 
due time he will fay unto ycu, ■' Rife up, my 
love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the 
winter is paft, the rain is over and gone. The 
flowers appear on the earth, the time of finging 
is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in 
our land. The fig tree putteth forth her green 
figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a 
good fmeil. A rife, my love, my fair one, and 
come away." Song of Solomon, ii. 10, 11, 12, 
13. Then, like the corn in fpring, ye fhall w in- 
creafe with the increafes of God ;" arc 1 . ir 
fouls fhall be like vsVusre- gard^os ?. arl( ^ " ove ? 

4 



148 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

all the glory, the Lord fhall be your everlafling 
-defence." 

Once more. The hufbandman does not de- 
fpife his field of corn, whilft in the blade ; but 
judges of and values it according to what it will 
be in due time ; knowing the good grain which 
he hath fown, will, with God's bleffing, yield a 
plenteous crop in its feafon. So God does not 
defpife his children when in the blade ; but judg- 
es of and values them according to the good- 
nefs of that incorruptible grain Jefus Chrift, 
which is in their hearts, and which will, in due 
time, yield a crop of glory. 

Let then every new born real chriflian flng 
with triumph, " The Lord will perfect that 
which concerns me ; thy mercy, O Lord, eri- 
dureth for ever." Pfalm cxxxviii. 8. Where 
this faith truly is, it teaches not carnal fecurity, 
but to " follow the Lamb wherefoever he goes ;" 
to whom be all poffible praifes, now and for 
evermore. 

Young men, and babes, and fathers too, 
In fields of corn themfelves may view. 



VIII. 

©N FOLLOWING A PERSON THAT CARRIED A 
BASKET OF SWEET FLOWERS. 




ETHINKS I am here in an advanta- 
geous fituation ! it is worth the while to follow 




A Small Bunch of Violets, 149 

fo much fragrance and perfume as here regales, 
my fmell. But I obferve, if I do not keep pret- 
ty near the perfon that carries thefe flowers, I 
lofe the benefit of this treat : therefore in order 
to enjoy it, I muil meafure my pace by theirs, 
whether faft, or flow. I perceive, moreover, 
that the wind blows in the perfon's face, who bears 
the fragrant load : therefore my fituatiqn muflbe, 
not to go before, but to follow ; fo fhall I have 
all the advantages I can, from this balmy feaft. 

What a leffon is this to lead me to him who 
" is the faireft among ten thpufand !" I mean 
Chrift Jefus, the beauteous " rofe of Sharon. 
Thy name, O Lord, is as the beft of ointments 
poured forth, and became of the favour thereof, 
do the virgins love thee ;" and they that love 
thee, will gladly be conftrained to follow thee. 

If a bafket of flowers induced me to follow 
the bearer thereof, how much (tronger is the. at- 
traction to follow thee, O bleffed Jefus ! " all 
whofe garments fmell of myrrh, and aloes, and 
caffia. Yea, Lord, the perfumes of thy un- 
speakable beauty and goodnefs, in purple drop- 
pings from thy wounded hei-.d, and pierced hands, 
and feet, and fide, allure me fo, that I may ef- 
teern no joy {q great, as to be near thee ; and 
no pain fo (harp, as to be far from thee, " for 
thy loving kindnefs is better than life'," and all 
the things that can be deiired, are not worthy to 
be compared with thee. 

I obferved that I was obliged to keep near 
the bafket of flowers, in order to enjoy their 
fmell. — So, it is only by kec % near the Lord 

N2 




150 A Small Bunch of Violets* 

Jefus Chri ft, and the anointings of his Spirit, 
that the fragrant perfumes of his balmy name, 
do win and captivate the foul, 'till it is fick of 
love, and induced more and more to fell all 
things, for the fake of fuch a privilege as fol? 
Howing this fupreme perfection of all beauty. 
Oh bleffed Jefus ! how many call themfelves by 
thy name, that are afhamed of thee and of thy 
crofs ; who are offended with thee, becaufe thy 
" kingdom is not of this world." 

Ah ! Lord, how many join thy train, 
And yet efteem this world their gain : 
Who are afhamed of thy crofs, 
% And think to follow thee, is lofs. 
Thy love and favour will not do, 
Unlefs the world approves them too : 
Who take all methods that they can 
To win applaufe from mortal man : 
And as for thee, they think thee nought, 
Unlefs thou wear'ft a finer coat. 
Afhamed of thy poverty, 
They talk, but will not follow thee. 
Thy children too their favour lofe, 
Becaufe they follow thee fo clofe. 
Thyfelf and caufe poor fhelter finds 
Among ft fuch worldly, carnal minds. 
But let who will the world obtain 
Still let me count thy crofs my gain : 
And whilft they love the fcarlet whore. 
Thee let me follow more and more. 
O let me always lean on thee, 
Till thy dear face in blifs I fee. 




A' Small Bunch of Violets* 151 

But let me return to my flowers. I obferved, 
that in following this bafket, I was obliged to 
move fafter or flower, according to the perfon's 
pace who carried it. This may teach, that in 
order to enjoy the fweet perfumes of Chrift, it is 
neceflary to eye liim, and to follow his motions 
wherefoever he goes ; to meafure our fteps by 
the leadings of his bleffed Spirit, whether it pieafe 
or difpleafe any body elfe. Such fouls as thefe, 
their " praife is not of man but of God ;" and 
though " in the world they fliall furely have 
tribulation, yet in the Lord they fliall have 
peace ; and the perfumes of confolation from 
Jefus Chrift fliall more than make them amends, 
for the reproach they meet with from man. 

Once more, I obferved that in following triis 
perfon behind, I had all the advantages that the 
fragrant bafket could afford ; whereas had I 
gone before, I fliould have had no benefit from 
it. Let this teach the followers of Jefus, to take 
heed that they do not in the forwardnefs of their 
own fpirits, run before their leader in any thing. 
For this is the cafe with multitudes, who make 
much fliow in religion, and yet do not do the 
will of the Lord, but their own will. Such 
perfons, inftead of favouring the perfumes Gf 
Jefus, do, on the contrary, warm themfelves with 
the fparks of their own kindling ; and though 
they may appear fome thing to man, yet they 
are much jpfapproved of in the fight of God. 

Bleffed are they, who have learned to be ftill, 
and not to move, until they are drawn fo to do 
by a better •fpirit than their own. Happy are 

i 



152 A Small Bunch of Fioku* 

they, who have learned to ceafe from themfelves $ 
and to experience, that it is no longer they that 
live, but that " Chrift liveth in them." He 
that hath learned of the Father, to know in prac- 
tice as well as in theory that obedience js better 
than iacrifice, is a chriflian indeed ! 

Another remark I make concerning thefe flow- 
ers, is, that both the flowers and their fweetnefs 
are to be confidered, as being feparate from the 
perfon who carried them ; whereas Jefus Chrift 
is altogether in himfelf, in his own perfon, the 
perfection of all beauty, fragrance, and delight, 
which can never fade to all eternity. 

O may I then always follow him, in whom, 
as in a precious cabinet, is collected, not only 
fome, but " all the treafures of wifdom and 
knowledge." O Lord, " I fhall be fatisfied 
when I awake in thy image!" Make no long 
tarrying, O my God ; for thou art all my hcpe s 
and all my falvation. Glory be to thee. Amen, 



IX. 

ON THE DEW. 




HIS is a mod amazing difplay of di- 
vine Wifdom indeed ! Soon as the evening 
comes, this penetrating, invifible moiflure, em» 
balms each herb, and flower, and fruit, that 
grows. When fultry heats and .winds do caufe 
the various tribes of vegetation, to languifh and 



i 



Small Bunch of Violets. 153 

pine with fickly drought—tins wondrous cordial 
falls upon their drooping heads, and makes them 
glow afrefli in verdant fmiles of health and beau- 
ty. But how admirable, this beauteous dew, 
whenever it diftils its cryftal treafures Hi nature's 
verdant lap, is neither heard by the quickefl ear ; 
nor feen by the iharpefl eye ; it makes no noife 
— it makes no mew. 

What a finking figure this, of that divine an* 
ointing from above, which waters heavenly fouls! 
God fays by his prophet Joel, " I will be as dew 
unto Ifrael." Oh heavenly dew ! This is the 
ftill fmall voice of the Holy Spirit, which is not 
to be found in the whirlwind of flefhly words and 
tumults, nor in the fire of flefhly works and 
paffions. 

As the dew falls when all is ftill — when all is 
wrapt up in facred filence ; lb it is in the filence 
and flillnefs of all fleih, with its noify workings, 
that this facred unclion diflils upon the foul, and 
caufes it to grow as the lilly, and tc cafl forth 
its fragrant odours as the wine of Lebanon. 

But ah ! how oft is nature's proud and active 
fire miftook for this divine and heavenly flame. 
Alas \ how this myftery of iniquity abounds and 
fpreads amongft numbers ; yea, amongft thofe 
who pafs for heads and rabbies, with their filly, 
blinded flecks, who put their necks under the 
iron yokes of men. 

Oh my God ! be thou as conftant ¥ew unto 
my foul. Teach me more and more to " ceafe 
from man, whofe breath is in his noitriis ;" for 
furely he is nothing to be accounted' of. 



1£4 A Small Bunch of Viol$ls* 

Let chriftians learn then, from the foregoing 
confederations, that ftill dreams are the deepeft. 
Let them learn more and more, to be like Mary 
at the feet of Jefus ; and to be more bufy in re- 
ceiving from him, than to be offering to him the 
facrifice of fools. Let all remember, " that God 
is a Spirit, and feeketh fuch to worfhip him as; 
worfhip him in fpirit and in truth." To him be 
glory and praife, Amen, ^ion's children, keep 
yourfelves from idols. 

Come, my foul, behold the dew ! 
Emblem of that Unction true, 
Which in foft whifp'rings, ftill and mild, 
Gently leads each new-born child, 
Until it reaches Canaan's more, 
Where peace abounds for evermore ; 
And wars and tumults are no more. 



X. 



ON SEEING A CHERRY TREE WHOSE BLOSSOMS 
WERE SETTING FOR FRUIT. 

jtlL WEEK ago, fuch aprofufion of neat- 
nefs and beauty arrayed this tree, as captivated 
every eye. Its fumptuous drefs, more rich than 
Solomon in all his glory, difplayed iuch charms* 




A Small Bunch of Violets. 15$ 

as preached the fweeteft lectures of the power 
and wifdorh of a God of love, to the admiring* 
Wandering foul. 

But what a change ! It feems to have laid 
afide its youthful blooming fmiles, for the wan 
and fickly afpect of old age and wrinkles. Yet 
how wonder ous it is to confider, that notwith- 
standing all this difadvantageous appearance, 
this feeming fading tree is really advancing and 
improving to a more glorious and richer ftate 
than ever it poife fled before. For the ruby col- 
oured lufcious fruit will foon regale the fight, 
the fmell and tafte ; and full amends will make 
for all the fading charms of its infant tender 
blofTom. 

What a beauteous figure this, of the different 
fteps of grace in the foul of man ! The convert- 
ed foul that hath been taught of God to clofe 
with Jefus Chrift, at firft, is like the blooming 
trees in fpring, that make the greateft fiiew. All 
love, all joy, all peace, feems to be their happy* 
lot. But ah ! what is the fplendid bloffom to 
the maturer fruit ? In comrJarifori thereof it is 
nothing. Now when a gracious God proceeds 
to advance his beloved children in the paths o£ 
grace, they, like the trees which fet for fruit, 
are according to fenfe, lofing all their beauteous 
robes, in deadnefs and decay. But oh, how rich 
the gain' ! when patience hath had its perfect 
work, the quickening life and power of Jefus* 
Spirit, as the nobler fruit, will amply make 
amends for the fading bloffoms of their former 
things* 



156 A Small Bunch of^ Vichts* 

As the fruit of a tree, by little and little, en- 
larges in bignefs, colour, flavour, and ripenefs, 
quite diftinct from all its former blcnoms ; and 
when all its blooming ftate is gone, and is no 
more ; fo the knowledge of Chrift in the fpirit, 
will in the fame manner, as the richer fruit, ad- 
vance in fuch weaned fouls, as are, like Paul, 
« forgetting the things that are behind, and pref- 
iing forward to the things that are before.' * 
But ah ! the gain of this, is what " eye hath not 
feen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the 
heart of man to conceive/' till he find the pre- 
cious, growing pearl within the cafket of his 
liappy foul. 

Let this teach then, to be looking forward ;, 
let it teach alfo, not to be too rafh in judging 
by appearances ; for we have already proved, 
that a tree when fetting for fruit, notwithstand- 
ing all its poor and dying figure, is in a ftate 
much more advanced than when in all its blof- 
fom. 

Be it known, therefore, to all profeflors of 
every chriftian fe& or name, whether preachers 
or hearers, that thofe fouls, who are more and 
more lofmg the bloiToms of their own fkfhly 
powers and operations, that fo the power and 
operation of God, as the fruit, may come in the 
place thereof — are in a far more advanced ftate 
than thofe who can always talk, and pray, and 
teach, whenever, they pleafe ; and fcarcely ever 
know a moment's ftillnefs or repbfe. Whereas 
the more fouls advance in fpirituality, the lefs 
ahle are they to do any thing of themfelves ; 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 157 

their own power and flefhly forwardnefs wither- 
ing away more and more* to. make room for the 
ftrength and power of God to operate in them, 
when and how he pieafes. Alas ! how little is 
to be {een of this. But when it is, how fweet 
and precious to all who know the voice of Chrift, 
the quickening, powerful, living Word of God. 

May the followers of Chrift contemplate then 
the different Mages of the fruit tree ; and both 
be inftrucled and comforted. Ma'y none be 
afraid to be " judged by men in the flefh, when 
they live to God in the fpirit." May thofe poor 
trembling fouls be comforted, who are weaning 
from the milk, that in time they may feed on 
meat, when they fee this emblem in their garden. 

Once more. When the fruit of the tree is 
come to its full ripenefs, then it attains its reft ; 
but how long is. this ; how gradual alfo ; even 
after the fruit begins to appear. So thofe fouls 
who are fo far advanced as to be exchanging 
the bloffcms of milk for the fruit of meat, have 
need to remember, that it is by many ftages and 
degrees they muft arrive at that ftate, where 
" the light of the fun Ihall be no more their light 
by day, nor the light of the moon by night, but 
where God Almighty and the Lamb ihall be 
their everlafting light, and the days of their 
mourning for ever ended. 5> Ifaiah lx. 19. 

Alas ! how many have mounted up here, only 
by the ladder of their fleihly imaginations, and 
are far, very far from this bleffed mark, whilft 
they dream they are got fo far they can go no 
farther ; who " think themfelves rich and ia- 

O 



158 A Small Bunch of Fiohts. 

creafed in goods, and know not that they are 
poor, and blind, and naked, and miferabW 

Brethren ! let " none therefore think more 
highly of himfelf than he ought to do." Let 
there be a preffing " forward to the mark of the 
prize of oar high calling of God in Chriii Jefus, 
who is a fc ended far above all heavens, that he 
might fill all things." 

May the Redeemer's bright and fpiritual glo- 
ry arife, and trample every other glory under his 
feet. May the glory of God prevail, and deilroy 
all the warping glory of man, both now and for 
ever more : Amen, and Allien. 






XL 



• N THE SOUL'S HEALTH, OR CURE OF THE LOVF 



OF THE WORLD. 



I 



THINK nothing has a greater tenden- 
cy to affuage the feverim third of man after vain 
glory, riches, pleafures, and an inordinate love 
of the world, than the true knowledge of the 
love of God in Chrift Jefus ; for the peace and 
tranquillity which this affords to the mind is fo- 
great, that it fatisfies its wants, and leaves not 
room for the entertainment of thofe delights, 
which, before, only received their ability of de- 
lighting from the emptinefs of the mind, and its 
being unacquainted with thofe real delights. 



A Small Bunch of Holds. 159 

• 

Aich are the proper and fitteft objects of ilitisfac- 
iloa and fubftantial happinefs to the mind' of man. 
Undoubtedly the mind of man cannot be hap- 
py but i&fhe enjoyment of God, and the being 
unacquainted with this matter, caufes him to 
leek for happinefs in thofe things which a de- 
praved and falfe imagination points out to him ; 
and thus he finds himfelf continually difappoint- 
ed upon the attainment of the fame ; notwith- 
(landin^ this, his imagination paints before his 
eyes fome new proipecl, which he as eagerly 
purfues, and is equally difappointed, when ob- 
tained. Thus poor man, according to his dif- 
ferent imaginations, dftnces after ihadows, till 
^Jeath comes and puts a flop to his career, and 
this frequently in the midft of the mod fanguine 
and pleafing hopes of happinefs : From what ? 
Why, from things that are in themfelves inca- 
pa^e of affording it, and which alfo are as un- 
certain and unconftant as the waters of the fea, 
or the colours of a painted bubble. 

Theife is, in contradiftinction to all worldly 
peace, fii a peace with God that paifeth all under- 
fraf ding, which keeps the heart and mind in the 
knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Je- 
fus Chrift." He, and he only, who is experi- 
mentally acquainted with this one matter is the 
happy man ; while all other peopie, however 
they may appear, or however crrcumitanced 
with regard to all the variety this world affords, 
are ftrangers to true rerVof foul ; their mirth is 
like the crackling of thorns under a pot, noify, 
thort, and tranfient. 



. 160 A Small Bunch of Violets* 

Happincfs never can be found feparate from 
an enjoyment of God ; and God never will per* 
mit the creature to fatisfv the mind feparate 
from himfelf. Thus the man of pleaftre, is un- 
happy in his pleafures ; the rich man, in his 
riches ; the ambitious man, in his honours ; the 
iludious man, in his ftudies ; and in ihort, let a 
man be enabled to gratify every qaffion of his 
mind, whilft a (tranp-er to the knowledge and 
love of God, he will notwithstanding be a Gran- 
ger to true and folid peace and happinefs ; his 
happincfs at belt, will be but like the fmooth 
poiiih of a calm fea, which is liable to be de- 
ilroyed by the next breeze of wind that comes 
upon it. Such is all human blifs, whilft a de- 
praved imagination is the guide by which a man 
iteers his courfe in purfuit of happinefs. 

Since the fall of Adam, it may be faid o5 all 
men by nature, " that the way oi peace they 
have not known." Nor does any man*take one 
ftep right in the road of happinefs, till the Prince 
of Peace (I mean Jefus Chrift) guides his fee.t 
into the way of peace, by revealing unto him 
the love of God, by the Spirit of Truth, the on- 
ly and true Comforter of the foul of man. This 
Spirit, by giving a man the knowledge of falva- 
tion by the remiiiion of fins, lets his foul in reft, 
and true peace and hannhiefs. Therefore we 
may fafely draw this folid conclusion, that no 
man may be found who is really acquainted 
with true and folid happinefs, but he, who" by 
an experimental knowledge of the love of Gcd 
in Chii ft Jefus, by the teaching of God's own 



A Small Bunch of Violets, 161 

Spirit, has peace with God, and confidence to 
draw near unto him by the fame Spirit, as unto 
his loving and reconciled Father, who, in Chrift 
Jefus, is well pleafed with him, and in whom he 
is faved with an everlafting falvation. 

A man can never be truly happy, till he real- 
ly experiences this matter in his own foul by the 
Spirit of God ; without the fellowfhip of which 
Spirit, he cannot enjoy the fame ; for " the things 
of God, or of the Spirit, knoweth no man, fave 
the Spirit of God." And therefore the higher! 
intellectual ftretch of mind, and the moft intenfe 
i!udy and application in matters of chriftianity 
are infufficient to make a man happy, till by 
being born of the Spirit he comes to know, ex- 
perimentally, by this Spirit, the remiffion of his 
fins, the love of God, the peace of God, and a 
quiet confcience, through that faith in Chrift Je- 
fus which is the gift of God, a-nd nothing lefs 
than the operation of his own Spiiit. Such a 
man as this is the true chriftian. This is the 
,man who only is capable of bringing forth 
u the fruits of the Spirit." This is the only 
man that can truly love both God and his neigh- , 
hour, and fet his affections on things above, and 
not on things of the world. 

The upfhot then of the whole is this : fince 
it is only the true experimental chriftian, that en- 
joys M the peace of God which pafleth all under- 
standing ;" fince mch a man is not only a pro- 
feffor of this matter, but a porTeffor of it, the 
true chriftian then is the only happy man. For 
he enjoys and poflerTes the love of God in his 

O 2 



lot A email Bunch of Violets. 

foul, and if this don't make a man happy, then 
moil affuredly it is impoffible for him ever to be 
happy. But before any man can be a competent 
judge of this matter, he mud experience the 
fame, otherwife he cannot tell what that happi- 
nefs is which flows from the knowledge of " the 
love of God fhed abroad in the heart by the Ho- 
ly Ghoft. Alas ! not all the wifdom and learn- 
ing of this world is capable of this knowledge ; 
for u except a man be born again, lie cannot fee 
the kingdom of God." But this kingdom is 
opened unto all true believers ; which kingdom 
is " righteoufnefs, joy aiicpeace in the Holy 
Ghoft. " Here may a man reft from ail the 
clamour and confufion of a miftaken world, in 
true peace of mind ; whilft he learns to pity, but 
hates none : Here, and here only, may a man 
learn in every ftation of life therewith to' be con- 
tent. Amen. 



■ ■ ■WW M... I . . ■ »'M l^F * vmm 



XII. 



ON REGENERATION 



B 



Y virtue of rege aeration, a perfon is 
made to know both the goo duels and the beau- 
ty of the Lord. In the knowledge of his good- 
nefs he apprehends it as revealed in the face of 
Jefus Chrift, pardoning all his fms } and clothing 
him with the righteoufnefs of his Son ; knd as 



A Small Bunch of V:o!rts. IBS 

God's grace is free, fo the new bcrn feu! receives 
it as fuch, and as abounding above all its fin. 

By virtue of regeneration, the fcul receives 
the promifes of God, and hath confidence in 
them ; the fruit of which is joy and peace ; fitch 
joy and peace as outbids the price of worldly 
joys and vanities. It is to be obferved, that this 
jo_ ce is the fruit of believing not only 

in God abfolutely, but al(b in Jefus Ckrift, "in 
who;- all the pioiriies are yea and arneu." In 
cor.fequence of this, the ibul feeds upon the grace 
and love cf God, and by the fame is nomiihed 
up in happiuels l: 'enednels. "Whatever dec- 
larations God has given in his word- relating to 
his being well plca&d in his Son, <S:c. the new 
born foul recc the fame in much affurance 
and in the Ho)y Ghoft, which abideth in him, 
which teiades [o the fonl what the fcriptuies 
hold forth in the letter, eriabUn? the foul to let 
to its leal that God is true. In confequence of 
this faith of the operation of God, the ioul is ac- 
tually quickened v 3 made alive, juitined and 
laved. The i - fpirit which dictated the fcrip- 
:ures, writes the truths therein contained on the 
hearts of lv" rs ; fo that the new born ibul 
measures its ideas of God and heavenly things 
as they are revealed in the gofpel, and not ac- 
cording to carnal reafon ; and by faith it appre- 
hends what makes fiefli and blood cry cut, how 
can it be ? comprehending thefe things which 
the natural man cannot receive, being only known 
and difcerned by the Spirit of God. Every 
truth of the gofpel is quickening to the new-bora 



164< A S^'iatt Bunch of VioleU. 

foul, and caufes it to grow up in God more and 
more. " Not by works of righteouihefs which 
we have done, but according to his mercy he 
faved us by the wafhing of regeneration and re- 
newing of the Holy Ghoft, which he ihed on us 
abundantly through Jefiis Chrift our Saviour* " 
to whom be glory. Amen. 



wr****wRTO<tTT> 



XIII. 



GM FAI1 H 



JL HE apoule Paul i^ys, Child is the 
end of the law for rigLtebufhefs natcr every cue 
that believeth So that now being come to 
Chrift, we are no longer under the law, but un- 
der grace ; rich grace, which has removed all 
fin, and wrath, and woe, and brought in everlalt- 
ing righteoufnefs, in which we (land in the pref- 
ence of our God, holy and unblamejble 5 and Cm- 
reproveable in his fight ; smd ail this we enjoy by 
faith without works ; becaufe the inheritance is 
by prornif?, and not by the law. We are laved 
not according to our works, but according to 
God's purpofe and grace given us in Ghriit be- 
fore the world began ; vvlirch is now made man- 
ifefl: by Chrift's own appearing, who hath abol- 
ifhed death, and hath brought life and immor- 
tality to light through the gofpel. In which it 
appears that remiilion of fins> and perfect recon- 



A Small Bunch of Via Lis. 16 J 

eiliation and psace with God, is the eift of his 
own grace given us in Chrift, to whom the prcm- 
iies were made; and in whom they are all yea 
and amen. So that flnce righteoufiiefs and re- 
xnifllon of fins, and the adoption of lens, are all 
according to God's promifes. as alio eternal life, 
we then cannot enjoy any of there ''privileges But 
by faith in Chrift ; for could any of thele mat- 
ters be attained by the law, thep the law would 
be againft the pronrdes that God's grace fruf- 
trated ; for, as Paul fays, if the inheritance be of 
the law, it is no more cf promife, but God gave 
it to Abraham by promife. 

This is the reafon why people think it fuch 
great preiumpti en for believers to aifert their 
having eternal life, remiffion of fins, and the 
adoption of ions. &c. becaufe they being with- 
out faith, cannot conceive of thele things, for the 
ion of the bond women mail not nor cannot be 
heir with the fon of the free woman. People 
tinder the law, finding they camiot attain to 
thele privileges 1 eir works, and knowing 

no cthjprway qf attaining to the^n, are furprifed 
to Lear of . :> profefs that the;- have at- 

ti*irie<5 to them, and think it is only die pro : nce 
pf pride and prefumptkvn, and the e of a 

heated, enthufiafHc brain. r fhuc is th : leripture 
fulfilled \ ,, " He that is born of the 

fiefii r:^?i2c\i*::s him that is horn after the fpir it." 
This bond fon Ifhmacl, always mocks the child 
of promife liaac, and ietteih himfelf againft the 
Lord his anointed. Thus the natural man de- 
ipifes the fpiritual man that is born of God> and 



l6& A Small BuricJj of Violas, 

efteems liim a fool and a madraan, becauie they 
difagree fo exceedingly. The natural man lives 
by fenfe, while the other lives by faith. Now 
the natural man never attains to rigkteouihefs. 
becaufe he feeks it by the works of the law ; but 
the fpiritual man attains even to the righte,oui* 
m& of God by faitli. For as the icripture faith, 
the rio'hteoufnefs of God is unto and upon all 
them that believe, without difference. So that 
by faith only, we receive the adoption of ferns, 
remiflion of fins, a pure confcience, and a liberty 

to draw near unto God with boldnefs by 

faith we apprehend Jefus 5 and put him on as our 
wifdom, righteoufnefs and holi'nefs, without the 
deeds of the law ; for, as Paul faith, " the law is 
not of faith ;" and if we be led by the Spirit, 
we are not under the law, but under grace, where 
we enjoy all bledmgs, inch as God's love and 
mercy, and complacency without the deeds of 
the law ; and here are jullified, righteous and 
pure before him in love, without the deeds cr 
the law, and enjoy it all by faitli, without the 
deeds of the law. 

This it is to be a chrmian, a believer, a child 
of God, a difcipie ox Chrili. This it is to be 
parled from death unto life — from darknefs to 
light — from mount Sinai to mount Zion- — from 
the fird man to the iecond— from the law to 
grace— from hell to heaven- — from fin to right- 
eoufnefs— -from milery to peace. In ihort, it is 
to be delivered from the fall and ruin of it, to 
everlafting falvation, Therefore believers return 
unto Zion with everlatima: joy upon' their heads, 



\ 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 167 

while forrow and fighing flee away. Being reo 
onciled to God by Jefus' death, made nigh by 
his blood, healed by his ftripes, and feated to- 
gether with him in everlafting blifs and glory, 
out of the reach of every foe. Being now fe- 
cured and preferved in God, and under an im- 
pofllbility of ever being hurt or feparated from 
the love of God to all eternity. Thus has God 
repaired the fall, and become the life of his 
church, having efpoufed her to himfelf in ever- 
lafting love and righteoufnefs. To* whom be 
praife and thanksgiving, now and for evermore. 
Amen, 



XIV. 



ON GRACE. 



I 



T is a comfortable confideration, that 
eternal life, remiinon of fins, and perfect right- 
eoufnefs, and juftification from all accufation 
and condemnation, are the free gifts of God ; 
not according to the works of the law, but " ac- 
cording to his own purpofe and grace, given us 
in Chrift Jefus before the world began." And 
this immenfe love of God was made manifeft by 
the appearing of Jefus Chrift in the world, who 
abolifhed death, and brought this life and im- 
mortality to light through the gofpelj fo that 



168 A Small Bii.uh of Fiohth 

the law neither -juftifies, nor fan&ifies, nor puri- 
fies the heart : but God jufiifies poor finriers 
ct! freely by his grace, through the redemption 
which is in Jefus Cirri 9:, who of God is made 
unto us wifdom, righteoufnefs, fancHfication, and 
redemption ; for he was made fin for us who 
knew no fin, that we might be made the right- 
eoufnefs of God in him ;" fo that we obtain an 
everlafting inheritance and acceptance with God,, 
®nly by his own love and grace, without the 
consideration of any performances of ours, to 
induce him to be Plow fuch bleflings upon us. 
His love has no caufe out of hlmfelf, but is quite, 
free. So that by the gofpel the love and grace 
of God is revealed, as having given us all blef- 
fings in Chriit, without the deeds of the law, in 
whom we have wifdom, and righteouihefs, and 
falsification, and complete eternal redemption 
from all the ruin of the fall, in all its extenfive 
mifery and defolation. So that Jefus is the tem- 
ple where God fits upon a throne of grace,, 
where we behold him fully fatisfied with us there ? , 
having given all bleflings and deliverance from 
all our foes, where we are reconciled, juftifiec!^ 
accepted, beloved and perfected in purity, in the 
life and death, and refurrcflion of Jefus Chrift^ 
being received with him into the kingdom of the 
Father, where w T e are without ipot or wrinkle, or 
any fuch thing, and unblameable before him is. 
love for ever and ever. Amen. 

And with regard to this grace of God, w< 
are not to look at it through any particular qua! 
ity m s§, whether, good or fed ; it is the clea 



• ! 

iXJL" 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 189 

ffrmament of God's love, which is not changed 
or made more or lefs by any thing in us ; fo 
that in viewing this grace of God, we mult 
only have refpecl unto the good pleafure of his 
will, and that he is gracious becaufe he will be 
gracious; nor is there any thing at allin the 
creature, in any meafure the caufe of God's be- 
ing gracious to him, or of his loving him and 
giving him remiffion of his fins and eternal fal- 
vation ; but it all fprings from die unfearcha- 
ble riches of God's grace and mercy, and from 
the everlafting purpofe and council of his own 
will. A man is not to conclude God loves him 
becaufe he finds any good qualities in him, but 
becaufe he hath revealed himfelf to be love in 
the face of Chrift, whom he fent to make mani- 
feft the hidden myftery of his love. And there- 
fore John fays, " In this was manifefted the love 
of God towards us, in that he fent his only be- 
gotten Son into the world to be the propitiation 
for our fins, that w r e might live through him." 
* The law, fays Paul, made nothing perfect, but 
the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which 
we draw nigh unto God." And it is not the 
works of the law that brings us nigh to God, 
but w T e are made nigh by the blood of Chrift. 
It is not the law that reconciles us to God, 
but the death of Chrift. 'Tis not by the 
law we are accepted by God, but we are 
accepted by him in the beloved. 'Tis not 
the law makes us righteous, becaufe the 
righteoufnefs of God, without the law, is 
imputed unto him that T worketh not, but be<- 

P 



170 A Small Bunch of Fields 

lieveth on him that juftifies the ungodly. 'Tis 
not the law that fan&ifies, but the blood of Jefus 
which wafhed us from our fins, when he offered 
himfelf up once for all upon the cuffed tree. 
'Tis not the law that makes us fons of God ; 
but Jefus being made under the law, to redeem 
us from under it, that we might receive the 
adoption of fons. All is of grace, all is of 
promife, all is freely given of God ; and thanks 
be to God for his unfpeakable gift. So that m 
Jefus we are faved, redeemed and purged from 
fin, and made holy and unblameable in the pref- 
ence of God, whofe grace has much more 
abounded than fin ; fo that as fin reigned unto 
death, even fo now grace reigns through right- 
eoufnefs unto eternal life, by Jeius Chrift our 
Lord. Amen* 



XV. 

ON SALVATION BY CHRIST, 

XN the falvation of a finner by Jefus 
Chrift, all the attributes of God are glorified, 
and fliine with the utmoft luftre. And he that 
hath fled to Chrift the true city of refuge, all the 
attributes of God concur to pardon, and acquit, 
and juftify fuch a .fcul.— By Chrift, the true**; 



A Small Bunch of Violets. 171 

liever is flickered from all accufation, and con- 
demnation ', for in his blood he has the pardon 
of all his fins ; and in his righteoufnefs he has a 
complete juftificaticii, anfwerable to all the 
law's demands ; for God has been pleafed to 
juRify that foul "freely by his grace, through 
the all fufHcient redemption of Jefus ClirinV In 
which juftification, the juftice and truth of God 
fhme with equal fplendor with his glorious un- 
fathomable mercy and love. — In this juftifica- 
tion, the law of God alfo " is magnified and 
made honourable ;" and has had more than all 
its moft exact demands — for what can it demand 
more than the perfect obedience of that holy 
Jefus, who is " God over all bleffed for ever- 
more ; who was made under the law, to re- 
deem us from under the law ; and now is be- 
come the end of the law for righteoufnefs, every 
way perfect to him that belie veth." — In which 
righteoufnefs, fuch a foul is fully jnftined ? by 
the Judge of all. to the glory of all the perfections 
of his nature. 

In this foul, Chrift is glorified in all his offices. 
Such a foul derives all its peace, and confidence, 
and joy from Chrift alone. — He lias peace with 
God by believing. By believing he puts on a 
holy garment, fit to appear in before God. — 
In the blood of Chrift, he h warned from all fin. 
— In die righteoufnefs of Chrift, he is clothed 
with perfect beauty, and is juftified from every 
charge of fin. Such a foul, through Chrift, 
tinds a way to a God of love, in fpite of the 
rcrld, the fieih, or Satan. — Grace, free grace. 



172 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

has opened to fuch a foul the door of heaven* 
which cannot be fhut. Sin cannot fhut it ; Sa- 
tan cannot fhut it ; the law cannot Ihut it. — 
The blood of Chrift keeps it open. Mercy cries, 
Let it be open ! Juftice lays, Itisjuft it fhould 
be open ! The law favs, It is iatisfied, and the 
door fhould be open ! Oh what an open way to 
God there is through Chrift alone ! Here wif- 
dom fhines in all its refplendent divine beams, 
— In a word, the glorious Godhead appears in 
all its refulgent brightnefs in Jefus the Son .of 
his love. 

Oh bleffed Saviour ! how hast thou glorified 
thy Father, and brought falvation and peace to 
man through thy deep humiliation,! fufferings 
and obedience. — Oh glorious Saviour ! who art 
now rifen from the dead ; in thy labours of love 
I place my hopes : I rest in thy sufferings and 
obedience for my justification and title to glory. 
— I acknowledge myfelf a poor unworthy back- 
sliding firmer- — but thy blood is far deeper, and 
more prevalent to pardon, than my fins are to 
condemn. — Yes, O my God, thy love is trium- 
phant,- and abounds far above all my fins, in 
thv dear Son. 

Glory be to God, who has opened for me 
fuch a door of accefs ! Glory be to infinite 
love, the fountain caufe of this way ! Glory 
be to infinite wisdom, that contrived it ! Glory 
be to infinite justice, that is here magnified ! 
Glory be to infinite truth and veracity, that is 
here confirmed and eftablished ! Glory be to 
tke jLamb, in whom all thefe perfections are f« 



A Small Bunch of Violets* , 173 

glorified ! Glory be to the Lamb for all his 
wounds, forrows, and death ; by which the 
covenant of peace is yea and amen, fealed with 
blood to all believers ! Glory be to God and 
the Lamb ! Glory be to the Holy Spirit the 
Comforter ! that has taught, and will teach my 
foul to live in " Jefus, who loved me, and gave 
himfelf for me." — -Holy, holy, holy Lord God 
of hofts, glory be to thee in Chrift Jefus, now, 
and for evermore. Amen, Hallelujah. — Praife 
him, all ye hod of heaven : Praife him all ye 
miniftering iplrits : Pj^iife him, O my foul. 



COMFORTABLE, DIVINE, AND EV AN GELI CAL 

SENTENCES. 



T 



PIE new nature, which a perfon is 
made partaker of by regeneration, is a nature 
compofed of divine love — -heavenly love being 
its only principle, and its only life, 

c 2. In order to love God fmcerely, it is ne- 
ceffary to know his beauty, to believe his 
promifes, to apprehend his goodnefs and love, 
and to have a deep fenfe of his mod; excellent 
wifdom and rich amazing power. This bleffed 
knowledge, which is always productive of fincere 
love to God, is alio one of the jewels of th^ 
new nature. 

P 2 



174 A Small Bunch of Violets. 

3. The true love of God will fliew itfelf in a 
resignation to his holy will, fatisfaction in his 
providence, and a renouncing of the vanities of 
life. 

4. When the love of God warms the foul, it 
is difpofed to do all things that may pleafe its 
heavenly Father ; for there is nothing that 
pufhes on the foul to fuch heroical actions as 
love. True love makes no difficulty of any 
thing ; it does not coniider whether any thing- 
is difficult or eafy, but only whether it is to be 
done : and if fo, then it is content. 

5. All the fruits of the fpirit, are the fruits 
of love ; love being their only principle and 
root ; and whatever is contrary to this, is not 
of the fpirit that God delighteth in. 

6. Grace fupplies all deficiences fpringing 
from the weaknefs of man ; and now in the gof- 
pel man is taught to look npon God as his 
helper and Saviour to the uttermoft. 

7. In Chrift 9 God becomes the portion of 
man ; and is an everlafting, inexh audible treaf- 
urc, ever abounding in everlafting joy and 
peace. 

8. The nature of man in the firft Adam, is 
mutable, corruptible, and fading ; ail its glories 
pafs away, and are continually vaniihing into 
darknefs and confufion. 

9. The nature of man in the laft Adam, is 
immutable, incorruptible and unfading ; its 
•glories abide for ever, nor is there to be found 
in : t any fuch thing as darknefs or confufion ; 
but everlafting' joy, harmony, and reft. 



A Small Bunch of Violets. Y]5 

10. All flefh is as grafs, and ail the glory of 
man is the flower of the grafs, the grafs witbefetli, 
and the flower thereof falleth away : but Chrift 
Jefus, the ever living word of God, endureth 
for ever. And as is the heavenly, fuch are they 
alfo that are heavenly. 

11. In Chrift, man's weaknefs, blmdnefs, 
darknefs, impurity, vanity, fin, death, and cor- 
ruption, &c. are all fwallowed up in life, light, 
joy, ftrength, purity, peace, righteoufnefs, and 
immortality, to abide for ever and ever. 

12. To know the erace of God, is to know 
Chrift, and union with him : for all grace was 
given us in him ; and in him, grace has much 
more abounded than all fin. 

13. In this myftery, all is the free gift of 
God — the bleffings are all fpiritual, and only to 
be fpiritually difcerned. But the Holy , Ghoiljjj 
which is the Spirit of Chrift, fearcheth all things^ 
yea the deep things Gf God. Afk, and it fhaii 
be given. 

14. The chriitian relieion conJifts more in 
receiving than in giving. We are poor empty 
beggars, and Jefus Chrift is full of all riches. 

He has provided a plenteous table, with all 
fuitable food for our fpi.rits ; neither requires he 
that we ihould bring to the feaft either money 
or price. Our goodnefs ihould not be our en- 
couraeement to come, nor our badnefs our dif- 
couraeement to ftav away : but laving aiide ail 
_excufes, we fhould be content to partake or the 
free bounty of our Lord. The Lord invites, 
r?e need aft: leave of no one elfe, but iuft as we 



176 A Small Buneh of Violets. 

are, we are fit for Jefus Chrift. " He that will, 
let him take of the waters of life freely," Rev. 
xxii. 17. 

15. The light of the Spirit of Truth difcov- 
ers to the regenerate mind, that it hath in Jefus 
Chrift all things it (lands in need of. The blef- 
fed Spirit leads a man from himfelf, and makes 
him to know that he is one with Jefus Chrift ; 
and that the delight of God in Chrift embraces 
him, as being gathered into one fpirit with him, 
and in him beautified with all perfection and holi* 
nefs. Here the foul perceives 'tis all the gift of 
God, and refts completely fatisfied. " Bleffed 
be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, 
who hath bleffed us with all fpiritual bleffings in 
heavenly places in Chrift." Eph. i. 3. 

16. It is quite natural for a chriftian to love 
God and his neighbour, to fet his affections en 
things above, and not on things of the world. 
*Tis naturally his delight to praife, and pray to 
God ; to mortify his unclean affections ; and to 

\ deny ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, and to live 
foberly, godly, and righteoufly in this prefent 
world. He naturally brings forth the fruits k i 

-love, joy, peace, gentlenefs, meeknefs, goodneis, 
faith, temperance, &c. and the contrary difpo~ 
iitions are unnatural to him. So that a chriftian 
in purfuing after thefe virtues, puriues his own 
natural bent and inclination. 

But what nature is this, that is fo well dii- 
pofed ? It is no other than the nature of Chrift 
himfelf, who dwells in the heart of every true 



- — -^— — 



A Snail Bunrh of Violets. 1 77 

chriftian. And therefore, thi^is " the new 
man, where CBrift is all and in all." This is 
the new nature that lufteth againft theflefh. It 
is not the old nature that is reconciled to thefe 
heavenly tempers, but it is the divine Jefus 
dwelling in the heart, causing the man to ac*r. 
agreeable to his pure holy nature ; and there- 
fore it is the life of Chrift, as Paul fays, " Not 
I, but Chriir., that liveth in me," 

This fets my foul above the earth and ikies, 
Nor is there ought therein like this I prize. 
Here I pofTefs true honour and renown, 
My head encircled with an heav'nly crown. 
Not like the crowns which kings on earth do 

wear, 
Which foon, like empty bubbles, difappear': 
But this eternal, never fading is, 
And feats me down in everlafting blifs. 
My life is hid with Ghrid, within the veil, 
No foe can it approach, or once affail. 
,7 Tis here I'm fcreen'd from every imp of hell. 
Whilft in this temple I moit fafely dwell. 






•; A Small Bunch of Violets* 

hail ! thotf-piince of peace, thou God of 

love ! 
Refound, Amen, O all ye hofls above ! 

A ' fhadow vain, in Adam, I was made, 
I'm now in Chrift, the fub fiance of that fliade- 

C. CAYLEY. 



THE ENT 



> 




